Candid photos capture heart of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Since we were children, we were educated on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to not only African Americans, but all Americans.

Originally born Michael King in Atlanta, Georgia, the American Baptist minister and activist became the most prolific leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.

Dr. King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience. He participated in and led marches for Blacks’ right to vote, desegregation, labor rights, and other basic civil rights. Dr. King led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped organize some of the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

We have all heard the stories and seen the marches, but many of us have yet to delve deep and explore who the man was behind the movement.

Take a look at these legendary photos that show a candid side of the activist and icon.

Martin Luther King Jr. historical photos: 1966 playing pool 2/20/1966 caption: Civil-Rights Leaders Take Cue in Chicago Giving a cue to another leader in the Chicago campaign for better living conditions for Negroes was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His game opponent during a visit to a pool hall was Al Raby, head of the Coordinating Council of Community Orgazinations, a civil-rights group working with Dr. King's Souther Christian Leadership Conference. (A.P. Wirephoto / )
FILE: The 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington on August 28, 1963 will be marked with remembrances and a march beginning on August 24. MONTGOMERY, AL - MAY 1956: Civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. relaxes at home in May 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)