Martin Luther king Jr.

Born

Jan 15, 1929

Martin Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta, Georgia

Graduation

Jun 18, 1953

Marting Luther King graduates from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

Marriage

Jun 18, 1953

Martin Luther King marries Coretta Scott, and they would go on to have four children together.

Dexter Avenue Baptist Church

1954

He becomes the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Leadership

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refuses to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Martin Luther King Jr. becomes a leader in the boycott, which lasts for 381 days.

SCLC

1957

He helps establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a civil rights organization focused on nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.

1st Book

1958

King's first book, "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story," is published.

I Have a Dream Speech

Aug 28, 1963

King delivers his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Nobel Peace Prize

1964

He awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle against racial discrimination.

Vietnam War

1967

He becomes an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War and delivers his speech titled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence."

Assassination

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Martin Luther king Jr. Day

Jan 15, 1986

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is established as a federal holiday in the United States, celebrating his birthday and his contributions to civil rights.