Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and the most prominent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. Heavily influenced by Gandhi’s nonviolent tactics, King led key events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech. His advocacy for racial justice and voting rights led to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. At age 35, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. King’s vision extended beyond racial equality to include economic justice and opposition to the Vietnam War. Despite facing constant threats, imprisonment, and surveillance by the FBI, he remained committed to the 'beloved community.' His assassination in 1968 sparked nationwide riots but also solidified his status as a global icon for human rights and social justice, whose birthday is now a federal holiday in the U.S.