What did Martin Luther King, Jr. advocate for?

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. His advocacy primarily focused on achieving civil rights for African Americans, fighting against racial segregation and discrimination, and ensuring equal treatment under the law. He is well-known for his use of nonviolent resistance as a means to effect social change, emphasizing the importance of peaceful protest and dialogue. King’s work led to significant milestones in civil rights legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to dismantle institutional racism and promote equality.

While he also addressed related issues such as economic inequality and voting rights, his most significant impact was directly tied to the broader civil rights movement, which encompassed a range of social injustices. King’s legacy as a civil rights leader endures, making the focus on civil rights in his advocacy particularly central to understanding his contributions to American history.