Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi are two of the most well-known nonviolent activists in history, yet they led rather different lives. Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He attended segregated public schools until he was fifteen years old when he enrolled at the racially integrated Morehouse College in Atlanta. After graduating in 1948, Martin Luther King Jr. began to study theology at Crozer Theological Seminary where he was introduced to the philosophy of Gandhi (King).
Gandhi was an Indian civil rights leader who lived in South Africa when Martin Luther King Jr. was born. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s father and grandfather were both pastors, so Martin Luther learned about Christianity from an early age. He also mastered English at a young age because his mother wanted all of her children to speak it flawlessly before learning African American dialect. Martin Luther King Jr enrolled in Morehouse College at the young age of fifteen where he studied sociology, history, and economics among other subjects that led him to major in sociology (King).
Martin Luther King Jr. went on to study for a doctorate degree in systematic theology at Boston University. Martin Luther King Jr. was then ordained as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1954 (King). Martin Luther King Jr. began his civil rights protests during the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 after being influenced by Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence . Martin Luther grew up during the Jim Crow era, so he saw how African Americans were treated when they tried to resist their oppressors with violence.
Martin Luther wanted to change people’s opinions about race relations through nonviolent means because it empowered all citizens, not just African Americans who could have retaliated . Martin eventually succeeded in his quest for equal rights and became one of our country’s most influential moral figures. Martin Luther King Jr had a dream of racial equality and this drove his motives for nonviolent protests . Martin traveled to India in 1959 where he received an honorary degree from the University of Delhi. Martin Luther King Jr went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 (King).
Martin’s influence on international peace was recognized not only by American citizens, but also by the members of the United Nations (King). Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s life came to an end when he was assassinated at age 39 on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee . Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian revolutionary leader who lived during Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s life time. Mahatma Gandhi has been called “the father of India” because he inspired Martin Luther King Jr. to become involved in the civil rights movement .
Mahatma Gandhi worked for equal treatment for all Indians, not just Indians of a certain race (King). Martin was influenced by Martin Luther King during his time at Morehouse College when Martin read about his philosophy of nonviolence in one of Martin’s books (King). Martin was also greatly influenced by Gandhi’s principles after studying in Boston University where he began to understand how these principles could help African Americans gain equal rights . Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbander, Gujarat, which is located in western India (King).
He grew up learning about Hinduism and later became a lawyer before realizing that it would be his duty to make a difference in society for the better . Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia (King). Martin grew up learning about Christianity and he realized that it is important to help others even though you yourself are struggling . Martin went on to attend Crozer Theological Seminary where Martin learned more about Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence Martin Luther King Jr. s goals were peaceful protests while Mahatma Gandhi’s goals were more violent resistance toward British rule.
Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s influence on nations’ opinions occurred when Martin traveled abroad to India, Kenya, England, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, New York City at the United Nations headquarters in 1965 where Martin delivered his “I have a dream” speech (King). Martin’s influence on the African American community was recognized when Martin became the youngest man to receive Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at age 35 for his work toward nonviolent social change .
Martin Luther King Jr. finished his work towards racial equality when Martin was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee while working with a local sanitation workers’ strike (King). Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist who did not agree with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas that all Indians should live equally regardless of religion and caste. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s assassination occurred because he was shot by James Earl Ray while standing on the second-floor balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
Martin Luther King Jr. s assassination ended the civil rights movement and Martin’s dream of racial equality (King). Martin Luther King Jr. was 39 years old when he died. Mahatma Gandhi was 78 years old when he died. Martin had a life span of 39, Martin was an African American pastor who went on to organize many protests for equal human rights in Birmingham, Alabama which led to Martin winning a Nobel Peace Prize . Martin is often compared with Mohandas Gandhi because both were influenced by their studies at Boston University where they learned about nonviolence as a means to achieving one’s goal.
Martin worked toward nonviolent social change . Martin had been assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis Tennessee working on a sanitation workers’ strike. Martin Luther King Jr. was 39 years old when Martin was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee. Mahatma Gandhi achieved peaceful protests through nonviolence by working toward his goal to conquer the British rule over India and achieve independence for India (Gandhi). Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination occurred because he was shot on January 30, 1948 in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse who was a Hindu nationalist and a member of Hindu Mahasabha .
Mahatma Gandhi was 78 years old at the time of Martin’s assassination. Martin’s dream of racial equality was finished after Martin died from gunshot wounds while standing on the second-floor balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s assassination ended the civil rights movement. Martin had a life span of 39, Martin was an African American pastor who went on to organize many protests for equal human rights in Birmingham Alabama leading to Martin winning the Noble Peace Prize at age 35 .
Martin is often compared with Mohandas Gandhi because both were influenced by their studies at Boston University where they learned about nonviolence as a means to achieving one’s goal. Martin was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis Tennessee working on a sanitation workers’ strike. Martin Luther King Jr. died from gunshot wounds while standing on the second-floor balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee.
