Martin Luther King, Jr.

Michael King, Jr. is born in Atlanta, GA

Jan 15, 1929

Born in his mother's parents house in Atlanta, Georgia, young King is named after his father, Michael; however, both father and son later change their names to Martin Luther after the German religious leader. https://youtu.be/RXF5FxNUaXo - Adobe Spark video

King attends Morehouse College

Sep 20, 1944

Due to King skipping two grades in high school, Martin Luther King, Jr. enrolls in college at the age of 15 for a degree in sociology.

King marries Coretta Scott

Jun 18, 1953

While working on his doctorate in theology, King met Coretta Scott, a former music student, and they are married in her parents home in Marion, Alabama.

Rosa Parks is arrested

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus for a white passenger. https://youtu.be/EIn-WgKOiJA - Adobe Spark video

King is elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association

Dec 5, 1955

After Rosa Parks was arrested, a boycott began on the city buses by African American citizens lead by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the newly formed association.

Supreme Court declares bus segregation laws unconstitutional

Nov 13, 1956

The U.S. Supreme Court agrees with the decision in Browder v. Gayle declaring Alabama's bus segregation laws unconstitutional thus ending the 381 day boycott. https://youtu.be/r2ewxQ6w5H0

King elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Jan 10, 1957

The SCLC is formed to help coordinate more protests and boycotts after the success of the Montgomery bus boycott.

King writes his "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

Apr 16, 1963

After being arrested for protesting without a permit, King writes his famous letter and Birmingham becomes the focus of the civil rights movement.

King delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech in D.C.

Aug 28, 1963

At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, King gives his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to over 200,000 people. https://youtu.be/_IB0i6bJIjw

King wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Dec 10, 1964

For his work in the civil rights movement, King receives the Nobel Peace Prize with praise for calling for a peaceful, nonviolent resistance to racial discrimination.

King delivers his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech

Apr 3, 1968

While in Memphis, Tennessee leading protests in support of the Memphis Sanitation Strike, King gives his final speech.

King is assassinated in Memphis

Apr 4, 1968

King is shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel by James Earl Ray resulting in riots breaking out across the U.S.

President Reagan declared Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to be a national holiday

Nov 2, 1986

President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to declare Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a day to celebrate all of his important civil rights work for equality in the U.S..