Inspiration Behind Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was profoundly inspired to promote justice by several key influences and

personal experiences. His Christian faith and the teachings of his preacher father and grandfather

grounded him in the principles of love, compassion, and equality.

While studying at Morehouse College, King was influenced by Benjamin Mays, the college’s president,

who was a fervent advocate for racial equality. Another major inspiration was Mahatma Gandhi,

whose philosophy of nonviolent resistance deeply resonated with King after he learned about

Gandhi’s methods and their success in ending British rule in India.