Vuma mashinini biography of martin luther king
10 facts about Martin Luther King
Meet the civil rights leader in our Martin Luther King facts and discover how he changed history for millions of African-American people during the Civil Rights Movement
Martin Luther King facts
Full name: Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Born: 15 January
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Occupation: Minister and activist.
Died: 4 April
Best known for: Campaigning for the rights of African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement of the s and s.
1) Martin Luther King Jr was born in the United States of America to African American parents.
Vuma mashinini biography of martin luther king Earlier that spring, King had gone to Memphis, Tennessee, to join a march supporting a strike by Black sanitation workers. King lived with his parents, a sister, and a brother in the Victorian home of his maternal grandparents. He was becoming discouraged at the slow progress of civil rights in America and the increasing criticism from other African American leaders. The most famous being the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.At birth he was named Michael King, but his father later changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr.
2) When Martin Luther King was growing up, life was hard for African Americans. The Southern United States operated under the Jim Crow laws that kept black and white people separated in what was called segregation.
Black people had different schools, toilets and even sections of the bus to white people. They were also denied the right to vote in elections.
3) Martin Luther King had his first experience of segregation at just six years old, when he was told he wasn’t allowed to play with his white friend anymore his friends father wouldnt allow it!
4) His first major role in the Civil Rights Movement came in , after an African American lady Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus.
Biography of john knox The boycott lasted for several months, the issue was then brought to the Supreme Court who declared the segregation was unconstitutional. By August , the sit-ins had successfully ended segregation at lunch counters in 27 southern cities. Both his father and grandfather were pastors in an African-American Baptist church. The pastor was retiring.This sparked outrage in the African American community and Martin helped to organise a boycott of the citys buses. After days of protest, a court finally ruled that such segregation laws should no longer be recognised.
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5) Martin was a great believer in peaceful protest, inspired by the Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi.
His protests used no-violent tactics, even when the protesters themselves were met with violence from the police.
6) In , Martin gave his famous I Have a Dream speech, at a famous rally named March on Washington. Over , people gathered in the countrys capital to hear Martin and other activists speak about the importance of civil rights.
It has become one of the most famous speeches in history and focuses on Martins dream of a society where black people and white people live together in harmony.
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7) In 99 years after the abolition of slavery the Civil Rights Act was passed, outlawing racial segregation and discrimination in the USA.
8) In October , Martin won the Nobel Peace Prize!
Vuma mashinini biography of martin luther king day 2025 Three other Black passengers reluctantly gave up their places, but Parks remained seated. By , the years of demonstrations and confrontations were beginning to wear on King. Earlier that spring, King had gone to Memphis, Tennessee, to join a march supporting a strike by Black sanitation workers. He completed his doctorate and earned his degree in at ageHe was told over the phone whilst he was in bed suffering from exhaustion it had been a long, hard fight for civil rights!
9) Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in in Tennessee, where he had given a speech the day before. He was standing on the balcony his hotel when he was shot.
James Earl Ray was convicted of his murder and spent the rest of his life in prison, despite claiming to be innocent. James died in
10) Martin Luther King Jr is remembered for his tireless work during the Civil Rights Movement and his dream that one day everyone would be treated as equals.
Vuma mashinini biography of martin luther king jr His lengthy absences became a way of life for their children, but Martin III remembered his father returning from the road to join the kids playing in the yard or bring them to the local YMCA for swimming. The FBI even went so far as to write him a threatening letter, anonymous at the time. Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. Biography of Tom Hayden, Activist and Politician.A statue built in his memory now stands in Washington D.C. and each year, the third Monday in January is celebrated as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an American federal holiday.
Want to know more? Check out Nat Geo Kids Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandelaarticles to learn about the vital work of these incredible activists.
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