Martin Luther King, Jr., born January 15, 1929 is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent, civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He was born Michael King, but his father changed his name in honor of German reformer Martin Luther.
He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1965, he and the SCLC helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery Marches. A day in his honor will be recognized January 19th.
