Celebrating the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.

On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1965, he helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the following year he and SCLC took the movement north to Chicago to work on segregated housing. In the final years of his life, King expanded his focus to include poverty and speak against the Vietnam War, alienating many of his liberal allies with a 1967 speech titled "Beyond Vietnam".

In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., to be called the Poor People's Campaign, when he was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., southwest of the National Mall. The national memorial is America's 395th unit in the National Park Service. The statue of King was done by sculptor Lei Yixin, a prominent Chinese sculptor.

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968

Celebrating the life and legacy of 

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Celebrating the National Holiday Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1929-1968

Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael Luther King, Jr.) was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, pastor, humanitarian and activist born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He received many awards like the Nobel Peace Prize, the Congressional Gold Metal, Presidental Metal of Freedom and many others. He married Coretta Scott and from this union they had  four children, Martin III, Yolanda, Dexter and Bernice.

His famous and well-known "I Have A Dream" speech resonates throughout the world to this day. His untimely death on April 4, 1968, when he was assasinated in Memphis, Tennessee may have silenced his voice, but it cannot silence his message! Long live the "DREAM!"

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1929-1968

“These are revolutionary times; all over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression. The shirtless and barefoot people of the world are rising up as never before. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light…We must move past indecision to action…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.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

April 4, 1967

Celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968), let us think about the prophecies reflected through his speeches and dreams that he generously shared with us. He married Coretta Scott and they had four children (Yolanda, Martin III., Dexter and Bernice). He used the principles of nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. It is noted that Dr. King made a request to avoid mentioning his awards and honors at his funeral. Instead, he wanted it to be said that he tried to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, be right on the (Vietnam) war question and to love and serve humanity. In 1964, Dr. King received The Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and discrimination, through nonviolent means.

To have a dream doesn’t start with the teacher, preacher, doctor, business executive or politician. It begins with you…unleashing your passion from within. And so on this day, we must ask, is that dream better? Or worse? Are we still trying to overcome some day or have we responded to the call by building sturdier bridges to propel us forward into a brighter future? Are we utilizing those precious values and resources from yesteryear that formed our steadfast foundations of the present, to love more, edify continuously and teach more passionately? As we reach this moment celebrating Dr. King’s heroic sacrifice 43 years later, we must analyze just how much we have progressed and if we are continuing to encourage others to dream even bigger dreams.

Are our children in a better position to accelerate to the level of greatest that we want them to be? Or are they on their own because we took our sights off of the purpose behind the dream, by not turning that dream into a reality and performing our assignments effectively? At this point of the journey, we should not be wondering when we shall overcome, but declaring that we overcame a long time ago with victory!

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

“Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

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