Kulappulli leela biography of martin luther king
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He sought to broaden his base by forming a multiracial coalition to address the economic and unemployment problems of all disadvantaged people. King’s oratory skills, exemplified in his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the 1963 March on Washington, galvanized support for civil rights across the nation. This included the Montgomery Bus Boycott that integrated Alabama’s public transit, the Greensboro Sit-In movement that desegregated lunch counters across the South, the March on Washington that led to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in Alabama that culminated in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
King’s efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 when he was 35.
Dive Deeper
Montgomery Bus Boycott
King’s first leadership role within the Civil Rights Movement was during the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955–1956.
Other historians questioned the veracity of the documentation, especially given the FBI’s known attempts to damage King’s reputation.
Philosophy of Nonviolence I Have a Dream
Martin Luther King Jr.
1929-1968
In Focus: Martin Luther King Jr.
Day
In the nearly 40 years that the United States has celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the national holiday has never coincided with the inauguration of a non-incumbent president. While FBI wiretaps failed to produce evidence of Communist sympathies, they captured the civil rights leader’s engagement in extramarital affairs.
Despite facing significant opposition and hostility, King remained steadfast in his mission until his tragic assassination on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. Their union was built on mutual respect and shared values, with Coretta often taking on the challenging role of a supportive partner while raising their children. The King children grew up in a secure and loving environment.
As explained in his autobiography, King previously felt that the peaceful teachings of Jesus applied mainly to individual relationships, not large-scale confrontations. At just 15 years old, he entered Morehouse College, where he began fostering his interest in social change and justice.
Although they undoubtedly tried, Martin Jr.’s parents couldn’t shield him completely from racism.
He strongly discouraged any sense of class superiority in his children, which left a lasting impression on Martin Jr.
His baptism in May 1936 was less memorable for young King, but an event a few years later left him reeling. Offering a brief history lesson on the roots of segregation, King emphasized that there would be no stopping the effort to secure full voting rights, while suggesting a more expansive agenda to come with a call to march on poverty.
Notable Quote: “I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because ‘truth crushed to earth will rise again.’ How long?He married Jennie Celeste Parks, and they had one child who survived, Alberta.
On April 3, 1968, he gave his final and what proved to be an eerily prophetic speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” in which he told supporters, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.
But in his junior year at Morehouse, King took a Bible class, renewed his faith, and began to envision a career in the ministry.
Following this, he continued his studies at Crozer Theological Seminary, earning accolades for his academic achievements and graduating as valedictorian in 1951 before eventually pursuing a doctorate at Boston University, where he completed his degree in 1955. Under King's guidance, the boycott lasted 381 days and successfully led to the desegregation of Montgomery's public transportation system, marking a significant early victory for the movement.
The SCLC helped conduct nonviolent protests to promote civil rights reform. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.”
Date: April 3, 1968
The well-known orator delivered his final speech the day before he died at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.
The only national day of service, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986.