Martin Luther King Jr.

Biography

An American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.

Legacy

King's efforts led to the passage of landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His life and work have had a profound and lasting impact on race relations in the United States and around the world.