Martin Luther King 1951-1962

Graduate Studies

Sep 13, 1951

Martin Luther King began his graduate studies in Systematic Theology - Boston University.

Wedding

Jun 18, 1953

Martin Luther King married Coretta Scott at Scott's home near Marion, Alabama. His father Martin Luther King Sr performed the ceremony.

First Pastorhip Role

Sep 1, 1954

Martin Luther King began his first full time pastorship at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Doctorate

Jun 5, 1955

He was awarded his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University

First child

Nov 17, 1955

The couple's first child Yolanda Denise King a daughter, was born.

MIA President

Dec 5, 1955

King became president of the Montgomery Improvement Association(MIA) - one of the groups instrumental in maintaining the Montgomery bus boycott.

House Bombed

Jan 30, 1956

At 9:15 p.m., while King spoke at a mass meeting, his home was bombed. His wife and daughter were not injured. Later King addressed an angry crowd that gathered outside the house, pleading for nonviolence.

End of Bus Boycott

Dec 21, 1956

Bus boycott success - Martin Luther King and several allies boarded a public bus in front of King’s home on December 21, 1956

President SCLC

Jan 10, 1957

MLK became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference - a new group dedicated to abolishing legalized segregation and ending the disfranchisement of black southerners in a non-violent manner.

First National Address

May 17, 1957

At the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., King delivered his first national address, "Give Us The Ballot," at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom. Nearly 25,000 demonstrators were present where he urged he president and members of Congress to ensure voting rights for African Americans

Birth of Second Child

Oct 23, 1957

Coretta King gave birth to their second child, Martin, III.

Meeting with President Eisenhower

Jun 23, 1958

King and other civil rights leaders meet with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington.

His first book

Sep 17, 1958

King’s first book "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story" is published.

MLK Stabbed

Sep 20, 1958

During a book signing at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem, New York, King was stabbed by Izola Ware Curry. He was ushed to Harlem Hospital where a team of doctors successfully removed a seven-inch letter opener from his chest

MLK Arrested

Oct 19, 1960

MLK was arrested during a sit-in demonstration at Rich’s department store in Atlanta. He was sentenced to four months hard labor for violating a suspended sentence he received for a 1956 traffic violation. He was released on $2000 bond on 27 October.

Arrested during Albany Movement Protest

Dec 16, 1961

Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy, Albany Movement president William G. Anderson, and other protesters are arrested by Laurie Pritchett during a campaign in Albany, Georgia.

Arrested at prayer vigil, Albany Georgia

Jul 27, 1962

King is arrested at an Albany, Georgia prayer vigil and jailed. After spending two weeks in jail, King is released.Dr. King wrote a personal diary of his day-to-day experiences while in an Albany, Georgia jail for attempting to pray in front of City Hall. He pledged to return to jail, if necessary, if the City Commission refused to negotiate with Negro leaders on demands for immediate desegregation of all public facilities.