Martin Luther King, 15th January 1929 - 4th April 1968 |
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| Martin Luther King's most famous speech told of his dream that one day all races would live peacefully together and treat each other with respect. | |
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"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the sort of person they are. I have a dream that one day…all God's children, black, white, Jews and Gentiles. Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the black people's old song, Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" |
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Go to the full text of Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' Speech |
| Throughout his life Martin Luther King was confronted by violence. His home was bombed, he was stabbed, his family received death threats. None of this made him respond with violence. His Christian beliefs told him that violence and hatred could only be conquered by love and forgiveness.
In 1964 Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In April 1968, at the age of only 39, he was shot dead leaving his hotel room. Despite his death his legacy lives on. Others carried on his work and still today all Americans remember his life on Martin Luther King Day. |
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Important Biblical references to equality |