I Have a Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta Georgia 1929. At the time that part of country segregation—or separation races places like schools buses and restaurants—was law. He experienced racial prejudice from he very young which inspired him to dedicate his life achieving equality justice for Americans all colours. King believed peaceful refusal obey unjust laws best way bring about social change. wife Coretta Scott led demonstrators on fourth day a historic five-day march 1965. Starting Selma Alabama where local African had been campaigning right vote thousands nonviolent 54 miles state capitol Montgomery. arrested several times during lifetime. In 1960 joined Black college students sitting at segregated lunch counter. Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy interceded have released jail an action credited with helping win presidency. inspires large crowd one many speeches. Raised family preachers he's considered greatest speakers U.S. history. waves supporters steps Lincoln Memorial Washington D.C. March Washington. There delivered speech boosted public support civil rights. President Lyndon B. Johnson shakes King's hand signing landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation publicly owned facilities. sit three their four children home 1963. His wife shared same commitment ending racist system they both grown up under. receives Nobel Prize Peace Gunnar Jahn president Committee Oslo Norway December 10 1964. A mourners follows casket through streets after assassination April 4 1968. shot by James Earl Ray balcony Lorraine Motel. honour rights activist third Monday January each year Day.