Martin Luther King, Jr. was 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. In this photo, he is accepting the Judaism and World Peace award from Rabbi Abraham Heschel.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 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 just 19 years ago that it was observed in every state. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most well-known speech is "I Have a Dream," in which 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.