Who was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, and was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. Dr. King's efforts and message of non-violent resistance and civil rights helped to inspire the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended segregation and gave African Americans the right to vote.

The former and late President Abraham Lincoln was responsible for the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1963. This document declared "that all persons held as slaves" within rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."

Just over 100 years later, on August 28th, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, Dr, Martin Luther King gave his iconic, 'I Have a Dream' speech.

“I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.  I have a dream today!

The full 17-minute speech can be listened to here:

Lesson Summary

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential Baptist minister and civil rights activist in the American Civil Rights movement. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929 and assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. He is best known for his message of non-violent resistance and his efforts to end racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. His efforts, and those of President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. This freed African Americans from segregation and gave them the right to vote.

Dr. King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, DC, on August 28th, 1963, in which he voiced his desire that his four children would be judged based on the content of their character, not the color of their skin. As students listen, watch, and reflect on the speech, they should think about what resonates with them as their individual North Stars.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist
• He fought for civil rights through nonviolent civil disobedience based on Christian beliefs
• His efforts led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965
• His iconic "I have a Dream" speech was delivered in Washington, DC on August 28th, 1963
• As students reflect on the speech they should consider what resonates with them as their individual North Stars

Student Engagement:

As you listen, watch, and reflect on Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech what resonates with you as a North Star?

Please use the comments section to provide your reflection.