Martin Luther King, Jr. became a prominent figure in the civil rights movement through his leadership in nonviolent protest demonstrations, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington. He advocated for peaceful activism in the face of violent opposition, stressing that love and understanding were the keys to achieving social justice. His speeches and writings brought attention to the plight of black Americans, and his efforts helped lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
