Martin Luther King Jr

Born: 1929 Atlanta, GA

Assassinated: 1968

Most prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, he gained huge national recognition by the mid 1960s; his words really made people “feel.”

His father and grandfather were ministers.

Led Montgomery Bus Boycott in support of Rosa Parks, which lasted 382 days.

Followed Gandhi’s philosophy of non violent protest – for instance, encouraging student “sit ins.”

Organized march in Washington D.C. to ask for change, where he delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech to over 200,000.

Said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”