Encyclopedia article about Martin Luther King, Jr., a significant civil rights leader of the 1950s and 1960s. He achieved his most renown and greatest successes in advancing the cause of civil rights while leading a series of highly publicized campaigns in Alabama between 1955 and 1965. During this decade of mass protests against racial injustices, King's words and deeds inspired millions of people throughout the world. In 1964, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in the struggle for racial equality. In contrast, others saw King as a polarizing figure whose actions elicited violent reactions. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Fifteen years later, in November 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing the third Monday of every January as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata.

All rights reserved. By downloading, printing, or otherwise using text, image, logo, audio and video files from this Web site, users agree that they will limit their use of such files for purposes permitted under the fair use doctrine and will not violate EOA's or any other party's proprietary rights. Fair use of copyrighted material includes the use of protected materials for noncommercial educational purposes. EOA content used for such purposes does not require express permission from EOA or the Alabama Humanities Foundation, which holds the copyrights for EOA content. All other uses require written permission from the Alabama Humanities Foundation. Permission requests may be submitted by email to: editor@encyclopediaofalabama.org or by mail to: Encyclopedia of Alabama, Attn.: Permissions, R.B. Draughon Library, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849.

Forms part of the Encyclopedia of Alabama.