There are a select few individuals who have been called variously "great" or "brilliant" because they and their achievements have forever changed society and the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of those individuals. Martin Luther King's contributions to history place him in this inimitable position. One of the great figures in the journey of human history, Martin Luther King Jr., like Gandhi before him, lived by a heroic creed of non-violence. More than two decades after his death, the ideas of Martin Luther King; his call for racial equality, his belief in the ultimate triumph of justice, and his insistence on the power of nonviolent struggle to bring about a great transformation of American society are more vital and relevant than ever. Many are looking for a leader who can give security to their life. Martin Luther King's dream became that beacon of hope for African Americans and all those who sought equality and justice. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired people around the world to fight for the ideals of equality and nonviolence; ideals to which he dedicated his life. He dreamed of a world blind to color lines and worked tirelessly and peacefully to achieve this goal. His peaceful resistance was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi, who led the peaceful struggle for India's independence from Britain (Cone, 1969). Like his mentor, Gandhi, he believed in expressing one's feelings in peaceful ways. Dr. King's sole mission was to improve race relations for all people, regardless of color, through nonviolent means. Dr. King was beaten, arrested, and was in constant danger, but he refused to give up his dream that all men would be treated equally (Cone, 1969). With his constant quest for civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ...... center of the card ...... Luther King Jr., a great freedom fighter died on April 4, 1968 in an attempt to improve the living situation of his people in total freedom (Lewes, 1970). Since his death things have changed in many ways. In the 39 years he was on this planet, he changed the way people perceived black people and made America a better place. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left a strong legacy today by offering everyone a platform for peace and equality. Bibliography: Cone, James H. Black Theology and Black Power. New York: Seabury Press, 1969. King, Coretta Scott, ed. The Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Newmarket Press, 1983.Lewis, David L. King: A Critical Biography. New York: Fraeger Publisher, Inc., 1970.N/A "Martin Luther King." Nobel Prize. 1964. November 9, 2006. Schwartz, Davis. "A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Long Island University. June 1998. Nov. 9. 2006 .