More than 50 years after he died at age 39 from an assassin’s bullet, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. endures as one of the most influential and recognizable figures in American history. His rise from the pulpit of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to his groundbreaking work as a founder and leader

The U.S. is marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. But in Alabama and Mississippi, it's also Robert E. Lee Day, in honor of the Confederate general.

Dr. King's innovative thinking helped pave the way for Black entrepreneurial success. By challenging what's possible, King created a new era.