7. Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. is synonymous with civil rights, but Coretta’s activism was vital in sustaining the movement after his assassination. Together, their vision of justice invigorated equality efforts worldwide. After Martin’s death, Coretta established the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, dedicated to promoting his philosophy of nonviolence. She also led the successful campaign to honor her husband with a national holiday, first celebrated in 1986 (kinginstitute.stanford.edu).
