Early Life
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 as Michael Luther King Jr. to Martin Luther King Sr., and Alberta Williams King. Martin Luther King Sr.'s ascendants were pastors as well as himself. This ancestry proved to be an influence on Martin Luther King Jr, as he became one later in his life.The Kings were a middle-class family, so their children obtained a better education than the average African American at that time. King attended Booker T. Washington High School, Morehouse Colledge, and Crozer Theological Seminary. While in Booker T. Washington High School, King skipped both 9th and 12th grades, graduating at the young age of 15. King recieved 2 Bachelor's Degrees: A Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse Colledge and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary. On June 18,1953, King married Coretta Scott in Heidberger, Alabama. They became the parents of four children: Yolanda King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and Bernice King.
Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
As mentioned before, King's ancestry informs that his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all pastors. When he was 25 years old, King was hired to be the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He was the 20th pastor of this church, ever since it was founded in 1877. After establishing himself as a pastor, King went on to earn a Ph.D from Boston University, thus his title,:"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr".
Civil Rights Activist
King's original ideas for "equality among all men", started when he was attending Crozer Theological Seminary. It was here, that he learned of Mahatma Ghandi's non-violent methods which he used to rid India of British rule. King thought that these methods can be used to influence the civil rights movement. When the historical Montgomery Bus Boycott took place, King was present. When King was found encouraging the boycott, his house was bombed while he was speaking at a mass meeting. After bus integration was legalized in Alabama, King was elected as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He would soon begin touring the country, making speeches and urging more and more peolpe to get involved in the civil rights movement. While signing copies of his new book,"Stride Towards Freedom" in Harlem, New York, King was fatally stabbed by Izola Curry, a mentally ill woman who had been looking for King for five years. She was later sent to Matteawan State Hospital. During a protest march in Birmingham, King was arrested for participating and being part of the protest's organization. While there, King wrote his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail", he further encouraged the idea of civil disobedience and that segregated races have waited long enough to earn equality with other Americans.
The March to Washington/"I Have A Dream"
When Kennedy proposed his Civil Rights Act in 1963, King, along with 5 other civil activists, thought of an appalling way to persuade Congress to pass the bill. The March to Washington was a tremendous success in the civil rights movement, as it had attracted from 200,000 to 400,000 people on August 28, 1963. The march took place from the capital to the Lincoln Memorial. This event was internationally televised, making America's civil rights movement known around the world.
Noteworthy speeches were from John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech is one of the most well known speeches of all time. In his speech, King mentioned how he did not want violent protests and wanted to win the favor of Congress with civil disobedience. He also acknowledged that America will be a land where people"will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
The March to Washington was successful as Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with the acceptance of Lyndon B. Johnson, the President at that time.
Noteworthy speeches were from John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech is one of the most well known speeches of all time. In his speech, King mentioned how he did not want violent protests and wanted to win the favor of Congress with civil disobedience. He also acknowledged that America will be a land where people"will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
The March to Washington was successful as Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with the acceptance of Lyndon B. Johnson, the President at that time.
"Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last"
Martin Luther King Jr. ("I Have A Dream" )
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Although King proved to be a very influential leader in the civil rights movement, not everyone thought of him as a hero. Some resented him.
King had come to Memphis, Tennessee to support sanitation workers who were on strike. He lived in a room at the Lorraine Motel. On the evening of April 4,1968, Martin Luther King Jr., was shot one time striking his face and neck, while standing on the balcony. Less than an hour later, at St. Joseph Hospital, he was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. The killer's name was James Earl Ray. He was suspected after police found a small bundle dropped at a building containing a rifle, binoculars, ammunition, and other items. He was captured in London, after escaping the U.S with a false name. Ray confessed the truth and he was sentenced to 99 years in prison. (If Ray had not confessed the truth, he would've been electrocuted.)
Over 100,000 people followed his body as it was about to be buried. Martin Luther King Jr. was such an important figure that President Lyndon B. Johnson told the nation to make April 4 a day of mourning.
King had come to Memphis, Tennessee to support sanitation workers who were on strike. He lived in a room at the Lorraine Motel. On the evening of April 4,1968, Martin Luther King Jr., was shot one time striking his face and neck, while standing on the balcony. Less than an hour later, at St. Joseph Hospital, he was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. The killer's name was James Earl Ray. He was suspected after police found a small bundle dropped at a building containing a rifle, binoculars, ammunition, and other items. He was captured in London, after escaping the U.S with a false name. Ray confessed the truth and he was sentenced to 99 years in prison. (If Ray had not confessed the truth, he would've been electrocuted.)
Over 100,000 people followed his body as it was about to be buried. Martin Luther King Jr. was such an important figure that President Lyndon B. Johnson told the nation to make April 4 a day of mourning.
Legacy
MLK Jr. will always be remembered as one of the most influential civil rights leaders and a hero. His work is shown through the lives of all who strived for racial equality. To honor him, January 15th was made Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1986; this was his birthday. the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is located in Washington D.C., where a 30-ft. stone statue is carved at the entrance. Surely, this activist will never be forgotten.