Profile of the Day: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we remember iconic civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr, who was born on this day in 1929.

Image: Martin Luther King, Jr. / Library of Congress

King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams. An inspiring leader, King helped make significant advancements in civil rights through non-violent protest. In 1955, King led the Montgomery bus boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus. The boycott was a defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement and transformed King into a national figure.

In 1963, he delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. A year later, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work combating racial inequality through nonviolence.

Sadly, King was killed on April 4, 1968. He was 39 years old.

Remembered as one of the greatest orators in American history, King’s words for peace and equality for all continues to inspire many people throughout the world. 

Explore Martin Luther King, Jr.’s family tree on Geni and share your connection to the Civil Rights icon.
 

View Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Geni Profile