We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.
–Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” Speech given at the National Cathedral, March 31, 1968.
Under Dr. King’s leadership, nonviolent protest became the defining feature of the modern civil rights movement in America. King first demonstrated the efficacy of passive resistance in 1955–56 while helping to lead the prolonged bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, that succeeded in dismantling bus segregation laws. King’s words were as powerful as his deeds, and his moving and eloquent addresses, which gave hope to millions, continue to inspire people throughout the world.
Explore related items in the collections and learn five surprising facts about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from our National Museum of African American History and Culture.
