Inspired by Thoreau and an admirer of Gandhi, MLK advocated non-violence all his life, even when he was repeatedly arrested. At the head of great campaigns for civil rights and the end of segregation, the strength of his actions lay in their public impact. Words as a battle weapon, and the spirit of cohesion as a source of power allowed MLK to become the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, before his murder 4 years later during a trip to Tennessee, to support the strike of the local black garbage collectors.
The legacy of this struggle lives on today. It is celebrated each year in the United States on Martin Luther King Day, a holiday on the third Monday in January, around the 15th, Reverend King's birthday. A day that reminds us that while MLK's dream is far from over, his positive thinking remains an inspiring ode to solidarity years after he spoke these words: "Hate clouds life, love makes it harmonious. Hate darkens life, love makes it bright."