Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later on changed his name to Martin. He was born on January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, USA and was a second child of Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta King. He died on April 4, 1968, Memphis Tennessee, USA.
Martin Luther King Jr. Initial and High School Education
Initially his mother taught him to read and write and at the age of 5 formal education of Martin Luther king Jr. started when he joined David T. Howard Elementary School. A bright student from an early age, he was promoted few grades by the school to move ahead and he completed his graduation at the mere age of 15 from Booker T. Washington High School.
Martin Luther King Jr. Higher Studies and Religious Education
He applied to Morehouse College by taking an entrance test for High School students which would lead to direct admission. After clearing the test, Martin pursued a BA Sociology degree during his last year in college he also pursued ministry and he received his B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College,
After getting his college degree King decided to pursue three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. While completing his Bachelors of divinity he was exposed to the works of another renowned world leader, Mahatma Gandhi who influenced his ideology thereupon throughout his life.
After completing his Bachelors of Divinity in 1951, he enrolled for Doctoral Studies in systematic theology at Boston Universities, simultaneously focusing on his religious activities. He completed his PHD degree in 1955
Martin Luther King Jr. Family Life
Martin Luther King, Jr., grew up as the middle child of Michael (later Martin Luther) King, Sr., and Alberta Williams King. His father was the minister of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta—the same church where Martin Luther King, Jr., would eventually minister.
While in Boston, King met Coretta Scott, a native Alabamian. she was a woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. who was studying at the New England Conservatory of Music. They were married in 1953 and had four children : Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice.
WHEN IS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY 2023?
It is observed each year on the third Monday of January. This year it is on January 16. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, often known as MLK Day or the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., is a federal holiday in the United States that honours the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. King was actually born on January 15th, 1929. (which in 1929 fell on a Tuesday). The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The earliest and latest Mondays for this holiday are January 15 and January 21, respectively. King jr. was well known for his work on racial equality and ending racial segregation in the United States.
Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday?
It is a federal holiday in the United States that honours the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The earliest and latest Mondays for this holiday are January 15 and January 21, respectively. It is also the first holiday honoring an African American.
What happened on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
It is a federal holiday in the United States that honours the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. It celebrates Dr. King’s life and achievements as an influential American civil rights leader who dedicated his life to achieving equality for people of all colors.
What Martin Luther King jr. do and Known For ?
Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Baptist minister, Religious leader and Social rights activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and ’60s. He was from 1960 until his death acted as co-pastor. He is known for his contributions to the American civil rights movement from 1950s until his assassination in 1968. He used to organized and staged countless marches, boycotts and a number of peaceful protests. He was highly influenced from Mahatma Gandhi Non-violent movements and he also used to advocate Nonviolent methods of protests. His most famous peaceful protest was “March on Washington” in 1963. His most noted and famous work is his “I Have a Dream” speech which was also delivered in 1963. In his speech he spoke about his dream of a United States which is free of segregation and racism.
Noble Peace Prize and Grammy Award
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, and, at that time, he was the youngest person to won it. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize.
When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123
to the furtherance of the civil rights movement. He won Grammy Award posthumously in 1970.
How did Martin Luther King, Jr., die and who killed him?
Martin Luther King, Jr., was standing on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, when he was shot by James Earl Ray. An hour later, King died at St. Joseph’s hospital. His death sparked riots across the country.
Lesser knowns Facts about Martin Luther King jr.
His birth name was Michael
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later on his father changed his own name as well as of his son to Martin Luther, after the German Protestant Reformation leader to Martin.
King completed his high school and started college at the age of 15
A bright student from an early age, he was promoted few grades by the school to move ahead and complete his high school education at the mere age of 15 from Booker T. Washington High School.
‘I Have a Dream’ was not his first speech
Six years before his iconic speech at Lincoln Memorial, King spoke during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom in 1957.
King was imprisoned a lot
According to the King Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. went to jail 29 times.
His last public speech foreshadowed his death
In his last speech the night before he was assassinated, King said, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now, I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”
Martin Luther King Jr. : Quotes
Brotherhood
I want to be the white man’s brother, not his brother-in-law.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Brotherhood
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Charity
Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.: Strength to Love
Equality
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Equality
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:—“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ideals and Idealism
If a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ignorance and Stupidity
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.: Strength to Love
Justice
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Modern Times
The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.: Strength to Love
Problems
All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.: Strength to Love