Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American civil rights activist and a strong leader in the American Civil Rights Movement. He was also a Baptist minister, and advocated for the civil rights of all people using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He was assassinated in 1968.
Since 1983, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been an observed federal holiday in the United States, although it was not until the year 2000 that all 50 states officially agreed to observe it. The holiday falls on the third Monday in January, near Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday (January 15), as a tribute to the peacebuilder and a reminder of the enduring imperative of his message of equality for all people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most well-known speech is "I Have a Dream," which he delivered on August 28, 1963. In it, he called for an end to racism in the United States. Although the speech was delivered over 50 years ago, its message stays extraordinarily powerful and timely today.