The activism of Martin Luther King Jr. was fostered by critical events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which stimulated his leadership role. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, King experienced racial discrimination firsthand, which ignited his passion for equality. His education, particularly at Boston University, exposed him to concepts of nonviolent resistance drawn from figures like Gandhi. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference further provided a platform for mobilization. His efforts during the March on Washington and his “I Have a Dream” speech marked pivotal moments in the civil rights movement.