Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. He grew up in a time when Black people faced a lot of unfair treatment, especially in the southern states. Black people were not allowed to go to the same schools as white people, and they could not sit in certain places on buses or eat in certain restaurants. This unfair treatment is called “segregation.”
From a young age, Martin saw how his family and community were treated unfairly. Martin learned a lot about kindness and justice from his family. Martin was a very good student and went to college when he was only 15 years old. He later studied to become a priest in his church, like his father, and he learned more about the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader in India who believed in fighting injustice without violence. This idea of non-violence became very important to Martin’s work.
In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. helped organize a large event called the “March on Washington.” More than 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand equal rights for Black people. This was one of the largest gatherings of its kind in history.
At this event, Martin gave one of his most famous speeches, called the “I Have a Dream” speech. In his speech, he talked about his dream of a world where people would not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character. His speech was powerful and inspired many people to join the fight for justice and equality.
Martin Luther King Jr. always believed in non-violence. He wanted people to fight for their rights but in a peaceful way. He knew that violence would only make things worse. He led many peaceful marches and protests to bring attention to the problems that Black people faced. Even when he was arrested or threatened, he stayed calm and strong.
Sadly, Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. His death was a great loss to the country, but his message and dream did not die. Because of his work, many laws were changed to protect the rights of Black people and to ensure fair treatment for all.
Today, people remember Martin Luther King Jr. every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday in the United States. His life and work remind us of the importance of standing up for justice, treating others equally, and believing in peace.