Why in News ? 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed annually in the United States on the third Monday of January to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent civil rights leader who championed equality, justice, and nonviolent resistance. The holiday, established in 1983, aligns with his January 15th birthday. 

Martin Luther King Jr 

 About Martin Luther King Jr 

Childhood, Youth, and Education 

• He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. 
• Martin attended Booker T. Washington School, where his intelligence and oratory skills were recognized. 
• He graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in Sociology at the age of 19 and served as the Student Body President in 1951. 
• He married Coretta Scott in 1953, and the couple had four children. 
• In 1954, he became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Alabama, where he began his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. 

Legacy 

• Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray, but his work left a lasting impact on the global fight for civil rights. 
• In 1964, he became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent efforts to achieve racial equality. 
• He also inspired civil rights movements in other countries, including South Africa, and remains a global symbol of justice and equality.