
Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister who led civil rights movements from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He became one of the most visible spokesperson and leaders against racial discrimination. As Martin was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence, he is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience.
Martin won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance on October 14, 1964. On April 4, 1968, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee. Although, the work that he had accomplished for civil rights and equality before his death had changed the nation forever.