The influential leader advocating for civil rights and equality for all was Martin Luther King Jr. A prominent figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, King advocated for nonviolent protest and civil disobedience as means to achieve social change. His powerful oratory skills, exemplified in his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, inspired countless individuals to join the struggle against racial injustice. King co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and played a vital role in campaigns that sought to dismantle segregation and ensure voting rights for African Americans, leaving a lasting legacy on civil rights.