Remembering the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a world-renowned civil rights activist and faith leader, whose contributions to non-violence and social justice are celebrated each January. During his lifetime, King was a leading figure in the Civil Rights Movement, known for his personal courage, powerful oratory, and profound commitment to non-violent civil disobedience as the best path to full inclusion and equality for Black Americans.

Among the many awards and honors he received, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, the same year President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. He was assassinated in April 1968, and a week after his death, the Fair Housing Act was enacted as the final piece of civil-rights era legislation.

Today we honor Dr. King for his work advancing social justice and his visionary conception of a world in which each individual could thrive and the community as a whole worked in harmony and peace toward shared, benevolent ideals. As Dr. King once said, 'We know that to bring justice, love, and friendship, we must build strong communities that foster these things.