The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a well-known man in many cultures around the world. Dr. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes in American history. King's views and beliefs, which were similar to the nonviolent ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, helped African Americans throughout the 1950s and 1960s achieve the rights and freedoms that were their birthright. King faced many obstacles in his quest, such as prison and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles, he became a successful leader during the civil rights movement, and even after his death, guiding African Americans in a nonviolent and positive direction for the fight to secure rights and equality. These reasons make Martin Luther King worthy enough of the title “hero”. Martin Luther King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Martin Luther King, Jr. Timeline) Michael Luther King was King's original name before he was given it. amended. King was an educated man who went to high school in Georgia and attended Morehouse College at age 15. He then continued his studies at Boston University, where he received his doctorate in philosophy and systematic theology. In Boston, he met the woman he would marry, Coretta Scott. King's relentless and effective leadership and success in protesting for bus desegregation made him one of the key leaders of the civil rights movement. King also led one of the largest peaceful marches in Washington, DC. About a quarter of a million people, of all races, joined this march, alongside many musicians and artists. This is also where King gave his “I Have A Dream” speech. King was the youngest man, at the age of thirty-five, to win the Noble Peace Prize. King also wrote five books and numerous articles. (Martin Luther King - Biography) King's leadership ended tragically when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on a motel balcony. King was only thirty-nine years old and his killer was never found. To obtain the rights and freedoms of African Americans, many actions must be taken. A leader must take responsibility and lead a nation to a successful victory. That's exactly what King did. King formed many groups and became president of others. Groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and many other groups that maintained relationships with these groups..