-
Date of Birth
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. -
Family and Childhood
Martin had a brother, Alfred, and a sister, Christine. Both his father and grandfather were ministers. His mother was a schoolteacher who taught him how to read before he went to school.
Young Martin was an excellent student in school; he skipped grades in both elementary school and high school. He enjoyed reading books, singing, riding a bicycle, and playing football and baseball. -
Education
Martin entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was only 15 years old.
In 1948 he graduates from Morehouse College. -
Civil Rights Movement
During the 1950's, Dr. King became active in the movement for civil rights and racial equality. MLKing was instrumental in achieving many successes in ending segregation laws.
He participated in the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott with Rosa Parks and many other peaceful demonstrations that protested the unfair treatment of African-Americans. -
Professional & personal life
Martin experienced racism early in life. In most public places, there were signs that said "Whites Only" to tell the black people they were not welcome. He decided to do to something to make the world a better and fairer place.
After graduating from college and getting married to Coretta Scott, Dr. King became a minister and moved to Alabama. -
"I Have a Dream . . ."
His campaigns soon elevated the Civil Rights Movement to be the most important issue in American politics.
King helped organize the famous March for Jobs and Freedom on Washington in 1963, Dr. King gives his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where he spoke to the nation appealing for racial harmony. -
Legacy
His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped his cause. -
Nobel Peace Prize 1964
Dr. King is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. -
The King is dead!
Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee.
