He was assassinated while standing on his
balcony in a motel room the day before he was
meant to lead a peaceful protest march
He was a member of the executive
committee of the NAACP (National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People)
Arrested more than twenty times, was awarded
five honorary degrees, and was named Man of
the Year (1963) by Time magazine
Was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1964
Gave the money prize to help
the Civil Rights Movement
Worked as a pastor between
1960 and his death
Well educated
Received the Bachelor Arts degree in
1948 from Morehouse College
Did three years of theological studies
at Crozer Theological Seminary
Awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree
Completed and recieved a degree in
graduate studies at Boston University
Was posthumously awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Role as a Civil Rights activist
Helped to lead the
Montgomery Bus Buoycott
(1955)
Delivered his famous
speech ('I Have A Dream'
speech) in 1963
Advocated nonviolent protest in the
Memphis Sanitaction Worker Strike (1968)
Helped to establish the SCLC (1957)
SCLC -- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
A civil rights organization which supports
the nonviolent approach to progress
King's encouragement and involvement in
nonviolent protests and civil disobedience
helped to force the governments hand to
improve the rights of African-Americans,
passing many new laws
Some notable laws passed while King was active :
Civil Rights Act, 1964
'This banned discrimination in
employment and public
accommodations based on "race,
color, religion, or national origin." '
Voting Rights Act, 1965
' This act restored and protected the right to vote. '
Immigration and Nationality
Services Act , 1965
' This allows immigration from
groups other than those from the
traditional European countries. '
Fair Housing Act, 1968
'This banned housing
discrimination in both
sales or rentals. '