Martin Luther King Jr. was an American minister and leader of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He dedicated his life to ending racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans, fighting for the promise that all people are created equal.

Dr. King believed in nonviolent protest, meaning he taught people to stand up against injustice through peaceful methods like marches, speeches, and sit-ins rather than violence. His most famous moment came in 1963 when he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech to over 250,000 people in Washington, D.C., describing his vision of an America where people would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin.

His work helped lead to major changes in American law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in public places and employment. In 1964, at age 35, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, but his influence continues today. The United States honors his memory with a national holiday on the third Monday of January, near his birthday. His life reminds us that one person's courage and conviction can inspire millions and change a nation's course toward justice.