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Birth
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. -
Enters Morehouse Collage
Martin Luther King Jr. entered Morehouse College in 1944 at the age of 15. He was admitted earlier than usual due to his academic achievements. -
Marries Coretta Scott
Martin Luther King Jr. married Coretta Scott in Bethel Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, on June 18, 1953. -
Becomes pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Martin Luther King Jr. served as the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church for about 6 years, from 1954 until 1959. He left the church after accepting a position as co-pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where his father had been the senior pastor. -
Leads Montgomery Bus Boycott
Martin Luther King Jr. led the Montgomery Bus Boycott starting in December 1955. The boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, after she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. King became the spokesperson for the boycott, which lasted over a year, ending in December 1956. -
Forms Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Martin Luther King Jr. helped form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957. The organization was established to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action and protests for civil rights across the South. King served as its first president. -
Visits India
Martin Luther King Jr. visited India in 1959. He traveled there as part of a journey to understand the principles of nonviolence, which were central to Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy. King was deeply inspired by Gandhi's approach to civil rights and nonviolent protest, and his visit to India played a significant role in shaping his strategies for the American civil rights movement. -
Addresses the March on Washington
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. The march took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and was one of the largest rallies for civil rights in U.S. history, with over 250,000 people in attendance. -
Receives Nobel Peace Prize
Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize on October 14, 1964. He was awarded the prestigious honor for his unwavering commitment to achieving racial equality through nonviolent means. At the age of 35, King became the youngest person at the time to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. -
Leads Selma march
Martin Luther King Jr. led the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, a pivotal event in the American civil rights movement. The marches took place in March 1965, and they were organized to demand voting rights for African Americans, particularly in the South. -
Assessination
Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968. He was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. King was in Memphis to support a strike by sanitation workers seeking better wages and working conditions.