Marek korczynski biography of martin luther king
Home / Political Leaders & Public Figures / Marek korczynski biography of martin luther king
Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. Michael Sr. eventually adopted the name Martin Luther King Sr. in honor of the German Protestant religious leader Martin Luther.
Martin Sr. came from a family of sharecroppers in a poor farming community.
This speech played a critical role in shaping public opinion on racial equality and ultimately contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Through his powerful speeches and commitment to nonviolent protest, King played a fundamental role in dismantling legal segregation, resulting in key legislative changes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
When asked to leave or sit in the “colored” section, they just remained seated, subjecting themselves to verbal and sometimes physical abuse. He was becoming discouraged at the slow progress of civil rights in America and the increasing criticism from other African American leaders.
In the spring of 1968, a labor strike by Memphis, Tennessee, sanitation workers drew King to one last crusade.
He returned to Atlanta to become co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church but also continued his civil rights efforts.
His father, Michael Luther King Sr., was a prominent Baptist minister, while his mother, Alberta Williams King, played a nurturing role in the family. This commitment was further condensed into his six principles of nonviolence, which emphasized love as a powerful tool for social change and encouraged individuals to confront injustice without resorting to aggression.
Many people in cities not experiencing racial tension began to question the nation’s Jim Crow laws and the near-century of second-class treatment of African American citizens since the end of slavery. Martin Jr. also fostered discussions at mealtimes to make sure everyone understood the important issues he was seeking to resolve.
Leery of accumulating wealth as a high-profile figure, Martin Jr.
insisted his family live off his salary as a pastor. Another complicating factor is the 1993 confession of tavern owner Loyd Jowers, who said he contracted a different hit man to kill King. Parks was arrested and booked for violating the Montgomery City Code. The King children grew up in a secure and loving environment. King's efforts during the Birmingham Campaign helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
He was met with increasing criticism and public challenges from young Black power leaders. His life epitomized the struggle for civil rights and social justice. Five months after the historic peaceful protest, President Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
"I Have a Dream" and Other Famous Speeches
Martin Luther King Jr.
delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington.
Along with his “I Have a Dream” and “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speeches, King delivered several acclaimed addresses over the course of his life in the public eye:
Date: August 28, 1963
King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington.
Days after King’s assassination in 1968, a campaign for a holiday in his honor began. At 15, he entered Morehouse College, where mentor Benjamin Mays inspired him to engage in social action.
The event drew nationwide attention.