By Nithin Sridhar

^{Updated by Newsgram Team on 19th January, 2022}

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the outstanding American leaders and civil rights activists of the previous century. He was born on January 15, 1929 and fought vehemently against racial discrimination, and his struggle ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. He was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and adopted the means of Non-violence for his movement against racism. His legacy also includes his profound influence on Civil Rights Movement in South Africa.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for leading a non-violent movement against racial discrimination. On April 4, 1968, he was fatally assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Americans observe the third Monday of every January, which falls today this year, as the 'Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.' or 'Martin Luther King, Jr. Day' in honor of the champion of civil rights.

Martin Luther King, Jr is best known for his work on racial equality and ending racial segregation in the US. | Unsplash

1."Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others."

His speech, "I have a dream.." is one of the famous speeches in the world. | Wikimedia Commons

2. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

He fought vehemently against racial discrimination, and his struggle ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. | Wikimedia Commons

3. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

He was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and adopted the means of Non-violence for his movement against racism. | Unsplash

4. "There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right."

His legacy also includes his profound influence on Civil Rights Movement in South Africa.| Wikimedia Commons

5. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the first holiday honoring an African American. | Unsplash

6. "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for leading a non-violent movement against racial discrimination. | Pixabay

7. "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education."

According to the King Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. went to jail 29 times. | Wikimedia Commons

8. "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

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