Martin Luther King, Jr. (15th January 1929 - 4th April 1968) was an Afro-American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. He has become an iconic figure in the history of American liberalism, best known for his dedication to civil rights. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination. King was assassinated on 4th April 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.
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