Profile of the Day: Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

Today the U.S. observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in honor of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

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

He was born on January 15, 1964 in Atlanta, Georgia to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King.

A leader of the American Civil Rights movement, King sought to bring an end to racial discrimination through nonviolent civil disobedience. One of the greatest orators in American history, King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech was a defining moment of the Civil Rights movement. In front of a crowd of over 200,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington, King preached, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all mean are created equal.”

Today, King’s work for peace and equality continues to be a source of inspiration for people all around the world.

In celebration of the holiday, check out the United States Civil Rights Movement project on Geni and explore Martin Luther King, Jr.’s family tree to discover how you’re related.

View Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Geni Profile