We all play a role in shaping society, but some people really change history. Martin Luther King Jr. is a perfect example. He devoted his life to peacefully fighting racism and promoting equality during the civil rights movement. His powerful words resonate and are still relevant today. In honor of his birthday, which is celebrated annually on the third Monday of January, here are some facts about Martin Luther King Jr. to share in the classroom.
Our Favorite Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin wasn’t the real name of Martin Luther King Jr.
He was known as Michael King Jr. from his birth on January 15, 1929 until he was five years old. was so inspired from the Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther that he came home and legally changed his name and that of his son!
Martin Luther King Jr. first experienced segregation when he was just six years old.
As a kid, King was told he couldn’t play with his white friend anymore because black and white kids shouldn’t be together.
Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from Morehouse College at 19.
After skipping two grades, King graduated from Washington High School in Atlanta and enrolled at Morehouse College. He received his bachelor’s degree in sociology at just 19 and his doctorate in 1955 from Boston University.
Martin Luther King Jr. helped organize the Montgomery bus boycott.
The arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat to a white man sparked outrage and led to King’s first major role in the civil rights movement in 1955 Boycott of city buses, and after more than a year (381 days!) the court finally overturned the segregation law. It should be noted that although Rosa Parks’ arrest attracted more attention, it was actually Claudette Colvin who did first refuse give up their seat to white passengers.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the first black person to be named Time’s Man of the Year.
After his March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was King awarded by Time Magazine in their January 1964 issue. So did he appeared on the cover In 1957, when Time ran a story about his leadership during the Montgomery bus boycott.
Martin Luther King Jr. believed in peaceful protests.
After traveling to India in 1959, King met with supporters of Mahatma Gandhi who were peacefully protesting to demand Indian independence. King’s experiences strengthened his belief in nonviolent protest. Almost 50 years after this trip, a Message recorded by King was spotted where he “emphasizes his intellectual commitment to Mahatma Gandhi’s message of nonviolent social action.”
Martin Luther King Jr. organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957.
This group is historically significant and led many non-violent protests against segregation.
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.
More than 250,000 people gathered in the nation’s capital during the March on Washington to hear activists, including King, speak about the need for civil rights. His impassioned speech has become one of the most famous in history.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
King at just 35 years old received the Nobel Peace Prize “for his nonviolent struggle for civil rights for the African American population” in 1964. He donated his $54,123 prize money to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to fund future protests.
Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned almost 30 times.
King was at the forefront of the civil rights movement was imprisoned 29 times.
Martin Luther King Jr recorded on Motown Records.
Motown Records released the album The great march to freedom, which included a recording of King’s 1963 Detroit speech. King donated the royalties to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In addition, Motown acts performed at SCLC fundraisers, and the label’s founder, Berry Gordy, donated $500.
Martin Luther King Jr. won a Grammy Award.
After being nominated for Best Documentary, Spoken Word Recording or Drama (Other Than Comedy) in 1964 We overcome (The March on Washington… August 28, 1963) and 1969 for Best Spoken Word Recording (I have a dream), king won posthumously for Best Spoken Word Recording at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971 for Why I am against the war in Vietnam.
Martin Luther King Jr. loved to play billiards.
During his graduate school at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, King developed a love for the game and continued playing for the rest of his life.
Martin Luther King Jr. helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
King was instrumental in getting this law passed prohibited several forms of discrimination. Just a year later, he led a march in support of black American suffrage in Selma, Alabama that yielded results Voting Rights Act 1965 also passed.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is a national holiday.
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr., President Ronald Reagan signed an invoice 1983 Creation of a national holiday. The third Monday in January, first observed in 1986, commemorates King’s birthday on January 15 annually.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s last public speech was prophetic.
The night before his death, King traveled to Mason Temple Church in Memphis. He was there to support the city’s black garbage workers who were on strike. Many believe that the words of his closing speech “I was at the mountain top‘ seemed to predict his impending death.
He said: “Like everyone, I want to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not worried about that now… I’ve seen the promised land. I may not come there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will reach the Promised Land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not afraid of any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the balcony of his hotel. tragically shot and killed. James Earl Ray was convicted of murder. Despite claiming innocence, Earl remained in prison until his death in 1998.
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