Biography

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Lu her !in", Jr#, bu la er ha$ his na%e chan"e$ o Mar in# &is "ran$'a her be"an he 'a%ily(s lon" enure as pas ors o' he )bene*er +ap is ,hurch in A lan a, ser-in" 'ro% 1914 o 19.1/ his 'a her has ser-e$ 'ro% hen un il he presen , an$ 'ro% 1960 un il his $ea h Mar in Lu her ac e$ as co-pas or# Mar in Lu her a en$e$ se"re"a e$ public schools in 1eor"ia, "ra$ua in" 'ro% hi"h school a he a"e o' 'i' een/ he recei-e$ he +# A# $e"ree in 1948 'ro% Morehouse ,olle"e, a $is in"uishe$ 2e"ro ins i u ion o' A lan a 'ro% which bo h his 'a her an$ "ran$'a her ha$ "ra$ua e$# A' er hree years o' heolo"ical s u$y a ,ro*er 3heolo"ical 4e%inary in 5ennsyl-ania where he was elec e$ presi$en o' a pre$o%inan ly whi e senior class, he was awar$e$ he +#6# in 1951# 7i h a 'ellowship won a ,ro*er, he enrolle$ in "ra$ua e s u$ies a +os on 8ni-ersi y, co%ple in" his resi$ence 'or he $oc ora e in 195. an$ recei-in" he $e"ree in 1955# 9n +os on he %e an$ %arrie$ ,ore a 4co , a youn" wo%an o' unco%%on in ellec ual an$ ar is ic a ain%en s# 3wo sons an$ wo $au"h ers were born in o he 'a%ily#9n 1954, Mar in Lu her !in" beca%e pas or o' he 6e: er A-enue +ap is ,hurch in Mon "o%ery, Alaba%a# Always a s ron" wor;er 'or ci-il ri"h s 'or %e%bers o' his race, !in" was, by his i%e, a %e%ber o' he e:ecu i-e co%%i ee o' he 2a ional Associa ion 'or he A$-ance%en o' ,olore$ 5eople, he lea$in" or"ani*a ion o' i s ;in$ in he na ion# &e was rea$y, hen, early in 6ece%ber, 1955, o accep he lea$ership o' he 'irs "rea 2e"ro non-iolen $e%ons ra ion o' con e%porary i%es in he 8ni e$ 4 a es, he bus boyco $escribe$ by 1unnar Jahn in his presen a ion speech in honor o' he laurea e# 3he boyco las e$ .82 $ays# <n 6ece%ber 21, 1956, a' er he 4upre%e ,our o' he 8ni e$ 4 a es ha$ $eclare$ uncons i u ional he laws re=uirin" se"re"a ion on buses, 2e"roes an$ whi es ro$e he buses as e=uals# 6urin" hese $ays o' boyco , !in" was arres e$, his ho%e was bo%be$, he was sub>ec e$ o personal abuse, bu a he sa%e i%e he e%er"e$ as a 2e"ro lea$er o' he 'irs ran;#9n 195? he was elec e$ presi$en o' he 4ou hern ,hris ian Lea$ership ,on'erence, an or"ani*a ion 'or%e$ o pro-i$e new lea$ership 'or he now bur"eonin" ci-il ri"h s %o-e%en # 3he i$eals 'or his or"ani*a ion he oo; 'ro% ,hris iani y/ i s opera ional echni=ues 'ro% 1an$hi# 9n he ele-en-year perio$ be ween 195? an$ 1968, !in" ra-ele$ o-er si: %illion %iles an$ spo;e o-er wen y-'i-e hun$re$ i%es, appearin" where-er here was in>us ice, pro es , an$ ac ion/ an$ %eanwhile he wro e 'i-e boo;s as well as nu%erous ar icles# 9n hese years, he le$ a %assi-e pro es in +ir%in"ha%, Alaba%a, ha cau"h he a en ion o' he en ire worl$, pro-i$in" wha he calle$ a coali ion o' conscience#

an$ inspirin" his @Le er 'ro% a +ir%in"ha% Jail@, a %ani'es o o' he 2e"ro re-olu ion/ he planne$ he $ri-es in Alaba%a 'or he re"is ra ion o' 2e"roes as -o ers/ he $irec e$ he peace'ul %arch on 7ashin" on, 6#,#, o' 250,000 people o who% he $eli-ere$ his a$$ress, @l &a-e a 6rea%@, he con'erre$ wi h 5resi$en John A# !enne$y an$ ca%pai"ne$ 'or 5resi$en Lyn$on +# Johnson/ he was arres e$ upwar$s o' wen y i%es an$ assaul e$ a leas 'our i%es/ he was awar$e$ 'i-e honorary $e"rees/ was na%e$ Man o' he Bear by Time %a"a*ine in 196./ an$ beca%e no only he sy%bolic lea$er o' A%erican blac;s bu also a worl$ 'i"ure# A he a"e o' hir y-'i-e, Mar in Lu her !in", Jr#, was he youn"es %an o ha-e recei-e$ he 2obel 5eace 5ri*e# 7hen no i'ie$ o' his selec ion, he announce$ ha he woul$ urn o-er he pri*e %oney o' C54,12. o he 'ur herance o' he ci-il ri"h s %o-e%en #<n he e-enin" o' April 4, 1968, while s an$in" on he balcony o' his %o el roo% in Me%phis, 3ennessee, where he was o lea$ a pro es %arch in sy%pa hy wi h s ri;in" "arba"e wor;ers o' ha ci y, he was assassina e$#
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I Have a Dream Speech

Full text (tran cri!e" #rom au"io$ 9 a% happy o >oin wi h you o$ay in wha will "o $own in his ory as he "rea es $e%ons ra ion 'or 'ree$o% in he his ory o' our na ion# Ai-e score years a"o, a "rea A%erican, in whose sy%bolic sha$ow we s an$ o$ay, si"ne$ he )%ancipa ion 5rocla%a ion# 3his %o%en ous $ecree ca%e as a "rea beacon li"h o' hope o %illions o' 2e"ro sla-es who ha$ been seare$ in he 'la%es o' wi herin" in>us ice# 9 ca%e as a >oyous $aybrea; o en$ he lon" ni"h o' heir cap i-i y# +u one hun$re$ years la er, he 2e"ro s ill is no 'ree# <ne hun$re$ years la er, he li'e o' he 2e"ro is s ill sa$ly cripple$ by he %anacles o' se"re"a ion an$ he chains o' $iscri%ina ion# <ne hun$re$ years la er, he 2e"ro li-es on a lonely islan$ o' po-er y in he %i$s o' a -as ocean o' %a erial prosperi y# <ne hun$re$ years la er, he 2e"ro is s ill lan"uishe$ in he corners o' A%erican socie y an$ 'in$s hi%sel' an e:ile in his own lan$# An$ so we(-e co%e here o$ay o $ra%a i*e a sha%e'ul con$i ion# 9n a sense we(-e co%e o our na ion(s capi al o cash a chec;# 7hen he archi ec s o' our republic wro e he %a"ni'icen wor$s o' he ,ons i u ion an$ he

6eclara ion o' 9n$epen$ence, hey were si"nin" a pro%issory no e o which e-ery A%erican was o 'all heir# 3his no e was a pro%ise ha all %en, yes, blac; %en as well as whi e %en, woul$ be "uaran ee$ he @unalienable Ei"h s@ o' @Li'e, Liber y an$ he pursui o' &appiness#@ 9 is ob-ious o$ay ha A%erica has $e'aul e$ on his pro%issory no e, inso'ar as her ci i*ens o' color are concerne$# 9ns ea$ o' honorin" his sacre$ obli"a ion, A%erica has "i-en he 2e"ro people a ba$ chec;, a chec; which has co%e bac; %ar;e$ @insu''icien 'un$s#@ +u we re'use o belie-e ha he ban; o' >us ice is ban;rup # 7e re'use o belie-e ha here are insu''icien 'un$s in he "rea -aul s o' oppor uni y o' his na ion# An$ so, we(-e co%e o cash his chec;, a chec; ha will "i-e us upon $e%an$ he riches o' 'ree$o% an$ he securi y o' >us ice# 7e ha-e also co%e o his hallowe$ spo o re%in$ A%erica o' he 'ierce ur"ency o' 2ow# 3his is no i%e o en"a"e in he lu:ury o' coolin" o'' or o a;e he ran=uili*in" $ru" o' "ra$ualis%# 2ow is he i%e o %a;e real he pro%ises o' $e%ocracy# 2ow is he i%e o rise 'ro% he $ar; an$ $esola e -alley o' se"re"a ion o he sunli pa h o' racial >us ice# 2ow is he i%e o li' our na ion 'ro% he =uic;san$s o' racial in>us ice o he soli$ roc; o' bro herhoo$# 2ow is he i%e o %a;e >us ice a reali y 'or all o' 1o$(s chil$ren# 9 woul$ be 'a al 'or he na ion o o-erloo; he ur"ency o' he %o%en # 3his swel erin" su%%er o' he 2e"ro(s le"i i%a e $iscon en will no pass un il here is an in-i"ora in" au u%n o' 'ree$o% an$ e=uali y# 2ine een si: y- hree is no an en$, bu a be"innin"# An$ hose who hope ha he 2e"ro nee$e$ o blow o'' s ea% an$ will now be con en will ha-e a ru$e awa;enin" i' he na ion re urns o business as usual# An$ here will be nei her res nor ran=uili y in A%erica un il he 2e"ro is "ran e$ his ci i*enship ri"h s# 3he whirlwin$s o' re-ol will con inue o sha;e he 'oun$a ions o' our na ion un il he bri"h $ay o' >us ice e%er"es# +u here is so%e hin" ha 9 %us say o %y people, who s an$ on he war% hreshol$ which lea$s in o he palace o' >us iceF 9n he process o' "ainin" our ri"h 'ul place, we %us no be "uil y o' wron"'ul $ee$s# Le us no see; o sa is'y our hirs 'or 'ree$o% by $rin;in" 'ro% he cup o' bi erness an$ ha re$# 7e %us 'ore-er con$uc our s ru""le on he hi"h plane o' $i"ni y an$ $iscipline# 7e %us no allow our crea i-e pro es o $e"enera e in o physical -iolence# A"ain an$ a"ain, we %us rise o he %a>es ic hei"h s o' %ee in" physical 'orce wi h soul 'orce# 3he %ar-elous new %ili ancy which has en"ul'e$ he 2e"ro co%%uni y %us no lea$ us o a $is rus o' all whi e people, 'or %any o' our whi e bro hers, as e-i$ence$ by heir presence here o$ay, ha-e co%e o reali*e ha heir $es iny is ie$ up wi h our $es iny# An$ hey ha-e co%e o reali*e ha heir 'ree$o% is ine: ricably boun$ o our 'ree$o%#

7e canno wal; alone# An$ as we wal;, we %us %a;e he ple$"e ha we shall always %arch ahea$# 7e canno urn bac;# 3here are hose who are as;in" he $e-o ees o' ci-il ri"h s, @7hen will you be sa is'ie$G@ 7e can ne-er be sa is'ie$ as lon" as he 2e"ro is he -ic i% o' he unspea;able horrors o' police bru ali y# 7e can ne-er be sa is'ie$ as lon" as our bo$ies, hea-y wi h he 'a i"ue o' ra-el, canno "ain lo$"in" in he %o els o' he hi"hways an$ he ho els o' he ci ies# H7e canno be sa is'ie$ as lon" as he ne"ro(s basic %obili y is 'ro% a s%aller "he o o a lar"er one# 7e can ne-er be sa is'ie$ as lon" as our chil$ren are s rippe$ o' heir sel'-hoo$ an$ robbe$ o' heir $i"ni y by a si"n s a in"F @Aor 7hi es <nly#@H 7e canno be sa is'ie$ as lon" as a 2e"ro in Mississippi canno -o e an$ a 2e"ro in 2ew Bor; belie-es he has no hin" 'or which o -o e# 2o, no, we are no sa is'ie$, an$ we will no be sa is'ie$ un il @>us ice rolls $own li;e wa ers, an$ ri"h eousness li;e a %i"h y s rea%#@I 9 a% no un%in$'ul ha so%e o' you ha-e co%e here ou o' "rea rials an$ ribula ions# 4o%e o' you ha-e co%e 'resh 'ro% narrow >ail cells# An$ so%e o' you ha-e co%e 'ro% areas where your =ues -- =ues 'or 'ree$o% le' you ba ere$ by he s or%s o' persecu ion an$ s a""ere$ by he win$s o' police bru ali y# Bou ha-e been he -e erans o' crea i-e su''erin"# ,on inue o wor; wi h he 'ai h ha unearne$ su''erin" is re$e%p i-e# 1o bac; o Mississippi, "o bac; o Alaba%a, "o bac; o 4ou h ,arolina, "o bac; o 1eor"ia, "o bac; o Louisiana, "o bac; o he slu%s an$ "he os o' our nor hern ci ies, ;nowin" ha so%ehow his si ua ion can an$ will be chan"e$# Le us no wallow in he -alley o' $espair, 9 say o you o$ay, %y 'rien$s# An$ so e-en hou"h we 'ace he $i''icul ies o' o$ay an$ o%orrow, 9 s ill ha-e a $rea%# 9 is a $rea% $eeply roo e$ in he A%erican $rea%# 9 ha-e a $rea% ha one $ay his na ion will rise up an$ li-e ou he rue %eanin" o' i s cree$F @7e hol$ hese ru hs o be sel'-e-i$en , ha all %en are crea e$ e=ual#@ 9 ha-e a $rea% ha one $ay on he re$ hills o' 1eor"ia, he sons o' 'or%er sla-es an$ he sons o' 'or%er sla-e owners will be able o si $own o"e her a he able o' bro herhoo$# 9 ha-e a $rea% ha one $ay e-en he s a e o' Mississippi, a s a e swel erin" wi h he hea o' in>us ice, swel erin" wi h he hea o' oppression, will be rans'or%e$

in o an oasis o' 'ree$o% an$ >us ice# 9 ha-e a $rea% ha %y 'our li le chil$ren will one $ay li-e in a na ion where hey will no be >u$"e$ by he color o' heir s;in bu by he con en o' heir charac er# 9 ha-e a dream o$ayJ 9 ha-e a $rea% ha one $ay, down in Alaba%a, wi h i s -icious racis s, wi h i s "o-ernor ha-in" his lips $rippin" wi h he wor$s o' @in erposi ion@ an$ @nulli'ica ion@ -- one $ay ri"h here in Alaba%a li le blac; boys an$ blac; "irls will be able o >oin han$s wi h li le whi e boys an$ whi e "irls as sis ers an$ bro hers# 9 ha-e a dream o$ayJ 9 ha-e a $rea% ha one $ay e-ery -alley shall be e:al e$, an$ e-ery hill an$ %oun ain shall be %a$e low, he rou"h places will be %a$e plain, an$ he croo;e$ places will be %a$e s rai"h / @an$ he "lory o' he Lor$ shall be re-eale$ an$ all 'lesh shall see i o"e her#@K 3his is our hope, an$ his is he 'ai h ha 9 "o bac; o he 4ou h wi h# 7i h his 'ai h, we will be able o hew ou o' he %oun ain o' $espair a s one o' hope# 7i h his 'ai h, we will be able o rans'or% he >an"lin" $iscor$s o' our na ion in o a beau i'ul sy%phony o' bro herhoo$# 7i h his 'ai h, we will be able o wor; o"e her, o pray o"e her, o s ru""le o"e her, o "o o >ail o"e her, o s an$ up 'or 'ree$o% o"e her, ;nowin" ha we will be 'ree one $ay# An$ his will be he $ay -- his will be he $ay when all o' 1o$(s chil$ren will be able o sin" wi h new %eanin"F My coun ry ( is o' hee, swee lan$ o' liber y, o' hee 9 sin"# Lan$ where %y 'a hers $ie$, lan$ o' he 5il"ri%(s pri$e, Aro% e-ery %oun ainsi$e, le 'ree$o% rin"J An$ i' A%erica is o be a "rea na ion, his %us beco%e rue#

An$ so le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% he pro$i"ious hill ops o' 2ew &a%pshire# Le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% he %i"h y %oun ains o' 2ew Bor;#

Le

'ree$o% rin" 5ennsyl-ania#

'ro%

he

hei"h enin"

Alle"henies

o'

Le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% he snow-cappe$ Eoc;ies o' ,olora$o# Le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% he cur-aceous slopes o' ,ali'ornia# +u no only ha F Le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% 4 one Moun ain o' 1eor"ia# Le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% Loo;ou Moun ain o' 3ennessee# Le 'ree$o% rin" 'ro% e-ery hill an$ %olehill o' Mississippi# Aro% e-ery %oun ainsi$e, le 'ree$o% rin"# An$ when his happens, when we allow 'ree$o% rin", when we le i rin" 'ro% e-ery -illa"e an$ e-ery ha%le , 'ro% e-ery s a e an$ e-ery ci y, we will be able o spee$ up ha $ay when all o' 1o$(s chil$ren, blac; %en an$ whi e %en, Jews an$ 1en iles, 5ro es an s an$ ,a holics, will be able o >oin han$s an$ sin" in he wor$s o' he ol$ 2e"ro spiri ualF Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!L

I A%os 5F24 (ren$ere$ precisely in 3he A%erican 4 an$ar$ Mersion o' he &oly +ible) K 9saiah 40F4-5 (!in" Ja%es Mersion o' he &oly +ible)# Nuo a ion %ar;s are e:clu$e$ 'ro% par o' his %o%en in he e: because !in"(s ren$erin" o' 9saiah 40F4 $oes no precisely 'ollow he !JM -ersion 'ro% which he =uo es (e#"#, @hill@ an$ @%oun ain@ are re-erse$ in he !JM)# !in"(s ren$erin" o' 9saiah 40F5, howe-er, is precisely =uo e$ 'ro% he !JM# LAFh p