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Martin Luther King Jr.

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About Martin Luther King Jr.

In his 39 years, Martin Luther King Jr. left such an impact that you would be hard-pressed to find someone who does not know his name. King was born in Atlanta, the middle child of a minister and his wife. King pursued an education as well as a career in ministry, eventually earning his doctorate in systematic theology at Boston University. Not long after completing his doctoral degree, King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott. As a result of his involvement, King's home was bombed, but still he encouraged nonviolence. His arrest and imprisonment drew national attention, and King became the face of the civil rights movement. His peaceful philosophy, which he attributed in part to his study of Gandhi, contrasted with that of Malcolm X, who criticized King for not taking his actions further. King would go on to be arrested 29 times for his various peaceful demonstrations. Upon his 13th arrest, King wrote the famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail" which called on people to peacefully seek change through protest as opposed to through legal channels. In 1963, King delivered his most famous speech, now known simply as "I Have a Dream," and this event is directly credited with leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act the following year. King would continue his fight for another five years, marching throughout the country for civil rights, until April 4, 1968, when he was assassinated. He left behind a legacy of courage and hope, and his name is forever synonymous with equality. People wishing to commemorate his legacy can do so by picking up a variety of collectibles, including a Martin Luther King Jr. stamp or newspaper from the date of his assassination.