1. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Prophet of the 1960s

2. Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929
King was an American Baptist minister and a prominent leader in his community

3. Racial Injustice in America
After slavery became illegal in the United States in 1865, racism persisted in American society in other ways, such as segregation
Laws dictated where white Americans and “colored” Americans could go, what they could do, and which public facilities they could use
Violence was often used against African Americans, and they were believed to be inferior

4. Martin Luther King Jr.: Prophet of the People
1955: Martin Luther King Jr. helps organize bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama
1963: March in Washington, DC, where King delivers his famous “I Have a Dream” speech
1965: Marches from Selma to Montgomery to protest segregation

5. Martin Luther King Jr.: Prophet of the People
Through his work and tireless activism, King fought against the injustice of racism and segregation and sought equality for African-Americans
King believed in a future America where racism and segregation would no longer exist and all could live in peace

6. Public Reaction
For African-Americans, King was a savior and a source of great hope for change
King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for combating racial inequality with non-violence
For some white Americans, King was hated and reviled as dangerous for society
King was assassinated for this reason on April 4, 1968

7. Martin Luther King Jr. Today
Today, we remember King as a great American hero
From King, we can learn not only the importance of standing up for what is right, but the lessons of courage, determination, and believing in the good of others
We can carry on his legacy by continuing to fight against racism and by upholding the importance of peace and seeking unity among differences

8. Works Cited:
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize:
The King Center: