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Martin Luther King

What is martin luther king?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Full name Dr Martin Luther King Jr[1]
Birth date 15 January 1929[1]
Birth place Atlanta, Georgia, USA[1]
Death date 4 April 1968[1]
Death place Memphis, Tennessee[3]
Role Baptist minister and social activist[5]

Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist who led the U.S. civil rights movement and became its most prominent leader in the 20th century. He is best known for nonviolent activism for Black civil rights in the United States and was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

Context

Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on 15 January 1929 [1]. He led the civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968 [5]. His nonviolent activism earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 [4]. He was shot on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968 [5]. His original name was Michael King, Jr., later changed to Martin [2]. He is often associated with the Protestant reformer Martin Luther, though they are different historical figures.

Documented claims

  • He led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death in 1968. [5]
  • He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population. [4]
  • He was shot on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968. [5]
  • His original name was Michael King, Jr., and it was later changed to Martin. [2]

Questions and answers

What was Martin Luther King so famous for?

He was famous for leading the U.S. civil rights movement through nonviolent activism and for receiving the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize [4].

When was Martin Luther King assassinated and why?

He was assassinated on 4 April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was shot on a motel balcony [5]. The sources do not state the reason for the assassination.

Did MLK support LGBTQ?

The sources do not state whether Martin Luther King Jr. supported LGBTQ rights.

Sources

  1. 5 Things to Know: Surprising Facts About Martin Luther King Jr. — nmaahc.si.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Martin Luther King: Surprising facts about civil rights icon — bbc.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. 10 Things You Don't Know About MLK — benjerry.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Martin Luther King, Jr. — naacp.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. 27 Facts About Martin Luther King Jr. For Kids That Every Teacher Can Use — teachstarter.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in History