A Great American - The Story of Martin Luther King

The United States observes a holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King on the third Monday in January. This holiday is official recognition of his dedication, influence and service in the fight against racial discrimination in the United States.

Martin Luther King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929. Both his parents encouraged him to attend college and pursue a career. By the time he was nineteen, he had graduated from Morehouse College. He continued his studies at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. After he graduated from Cozor, he attended Boston University, where he received his Ph.D. in theology in 1955.

While he was studying at Boston University, King met Coretta Scott, a music student from Alabama. They were married in 1953 and had four children. After receiving his Ph.D. King moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where he became a pastor of the Dexter Avenue Church. It was during this time that he first became politically active. He was president of an organization that fought against segregated public transportation through a boycott. After a long year and much hard work, the bus boycott proved successful and became an early example of King`s philosophy of nonviolent protest.

On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King led the "March on Washington", which culminated in the meeting of 200000 people in front of the Lincoln memorial. Here King read his famous speech known as "I have a Dream". Recognized as an eloquent orator and a spiritual and moral leader, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. At the peak of his career, King was shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee. On that day, April 14, 1968, the life of a great American ended.

This is a part of his famous speech:
"I say to you today, my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream that one day the nation will live out the true meaning of its creed: all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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.
I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
A have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country `tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of pilgrims` pride, from every mountain side, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true."