Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement, best known for advocating nonviolent resistance to racial segregation and inequality. A Baptist minister, King rose to national prominence through his leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955). His iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the 1963 March on Washington remains a defining moment in U.S. history. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was tragically assassinated in 1968, but his legacy continues to inspire movements for justice and equality worldwide.