Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist who became the most prominent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by his Christian beliefs and the non-violent activism of Mahatma Gandhi, he led the movement to end legal segregation of African Americans in the South. He was instrumental in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech. His efforts led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, becoming the youngest recipient at that time. Despite his assassination in 1968, his legacy of non-violent protest and his vision of a color-blind society continue to inspire movements for justice and equality worldwide.