Martin Luther King Jr. SCLC – Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Profile – Martin Luther King Jr. Born Atlanta, GA, 15 January Married Coretta Scott 1954 Became Pastor of Dexter Ave Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama 1955 Became leader of Montgomery bus boycott 1957 Became President of SCLC at its founding meeting

Profile - continued 1958 Wrote Stride Toward Freedom, a description of the Montgomery boycott 1959 Visited India 1963 April, led Birmingham desegregation campaign; August, delivered ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in Washington 1964 Won Nobel Peace Prize 1965 Led voter registration campaign in Selma, Alabama and march from Selma to Montgomery 1966 Led campaign for open housing in Chicago 1967 April 4 Publicly condemned Vietnam war as unjust 1968 April 4 Assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee

King’s Philosophy Grew up in a world of segregation and discrimination and hated not only segregation but the oppressive and barbarous acts that grew out of it. While at Crozer College King developed ideas of social activism and belief that church could play an active role in correcting inequalities in American society. One of King’s tutors introduced him to strategy of non- violence When attending a lecture by Mordecai Johnson, King was introduced to ideas of Gandhi. Believed that it was God’s will that he campaign for social change by using non-violent, disciplined direct action. Grew up in a world of segregation and discrimination and hated not only segregation but the oppressive and barbarous acts that grew out of it. While at Crozer College King developed ideas of social activism and belief that church could play an active role in correcting inequalities in American society. One of King’s tutors introduced him to strategy of non- violence When attending a lecture by Mordecai Johnson, King was introduced to ideas of Gandhi. Believed that it was God’s will that he campaign for social change by using non-violent, disciplined direct action.

SCLC – Southern Christian Leadership Conference Founded 1957 in New Orleans by King and other black leaders King chosen as President SCLC adopted King’s nonviolent philosophy May, 1957, King took part in his first march to Washington DC. Formation of SCLC led to conflict with NAACP. Founded 1957 in New Orleans by King and other black leaders King chosen as President SCLC adopted King’s nonviolent philosophy May, 1957, King took part in his first march to Washington DC. Formation of SCLC led to conflict with NAACP.