This is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- He lived in America over 60 years ago.
- He led the fight for equal rights for black people in America.
- He didn’t believe in using violence to change things.
- He was famous for his powerful speeches.
Watch: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life
Learn more about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1963, more than 200,000 people came to Washington, America's capital, to hear one man speak. His name was Dr. Martin Luther King.
And the words he said that day are some of the most famous in history.
He said he had a dream that life for his children could be different from how it had been for him. But what did he mean?
Dr. King lived in a part of America that had racist laws that treated black people unfairly.
Racists believe people with certain skin colours, or who are from a particular race, are better than others so they treat them differently. So black and white people were kept apart, eating in different restaurants, travelling in different parts of buses and it was hard for black people to vote against the people who made these laws.
He had many enemies and was sent to prison.
After his release, he went to Washington.
There, in front of a huge crowd and with many more people tuned to their TV and Radio, he told of his dream that his children would one day live in a nation where they wouldn't be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.
People everywhere, began to share Dr. King's dream and knew that the racist laws had to change. Not everyone agreed though.
In 1968, Dr. King was shot dead for his beliefs.
But the changes he started continued after he died and so he's remembered. Every year Americans celebrate his life with a public holiday called Martin Luther King Day. Remembering a strong man and brilliant speaker.
What did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. do?
- Dr Martin Luther King Jr. wanted people to be treated equally whatever the colour of their skin.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave powerful speeches and led peaceful protests.
- He gave a famous speech to lots of people in Washington in 1963. In it, he said he had a dream that life for his children could be different from how it had been for him.
- During his life, he was arrested and sent to prison 29 times.
- In 1968, Dr. King was shot dead for his beliefs.
- Dr Martin Luther King Jr. never gave up the fight for equal rights, and made a real difference.
Did you know?
- When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was only six years old, he wasn’t allowed to play with his white friend. This made him very sad.
- Dr. King was very clever. He went to university when he was 15.
- In America there is a holiday called Martin Luther King Day. It takes place on a Monday close to his birthday - January 15.
Activity 1 – Rearrange the puzzle pieces of this important event in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life
Activity 2 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quiz
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