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Martin Luther King, Jr.

Definition

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American civil rights leader who advocated for racial equality in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his "I Have a Dream" speech and his role in advancing civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.

Analogy

Think of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a captain steering a ship through stormy seas (the turbulent times of racial inequality). His compass was his belief in nonviolence and equality, guiding him towards the destination of racial justice.

Related terms

Civil Rights Movement: A struggle by African Americans in the mid-1950s to late 1960s to achieve Civil Rights equal to those of whites, including equal opportunity in employment, housing, and education, as well as the right to vote.

Nonviolent Resistance: The practice of achieving goals such as social change through symbolic protests or other methods without using violence. This was a key strategy used by MLK during the Civil Rights Movement.

"I Have a Dream" Speech: A public speech delivered by American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 where he called for an end to racism.