Martin Luther King, Jr. was the most powerful and popular leader of the African-American protest movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He spearheaded mass action through marches, sit-ins, boycotts, and nonviolent demonstrations that profoundly and positively affected America’s attitudes toward racial prejudice and discrimination.
In 1963, he became the first African American honored as TIME magazine’s Man of the Year.
In 1964, he was presented the Nobel Peace Prize "for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population."
On April 4, 1968 the day after he delivered his speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop", he was assassinated by James Earl Ray as he stood on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel.
According to the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King's last words on the balcony before his assassination were spoken to musician Ben Branch, who was scheduled to perform that night at an event King was attending: "Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty."
Among the many great achievements he made during the Civil Rights Movement, his famous speech "I Have a Dream" has stood the test of time. "I Have a Dream" became Martin Luther King's rallying cry and in 1964 President Johnson signed into law prohibiting all racial discrimination.
Today, countries from all over the world - from North America like the United States and countries across the Atlantic in Europe such as Sweden and the Netherlands to the Southern African States like South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana and surrounding countries - all have stamps remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. Yemen, a country in the Southern Arabian peninsula has also issued stamps commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Civil Rights Movement. If you're wondering just how many stamps that were issued in honor of Martin Luther King, checkout the list below.
Martin Luther King, Jr on Stamps
