By: Nick Mancuso

Early Years Born Michael Luther

King Jr. on January 15, 1929 Atlanta, Georgia

Parents: Michael Luther King and Alberta Williams King

Father was pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church

Education Attended segregated public schools

in the south Graduated high school at 15 years of

age Received B.A. in 1958 from

Morehouse College Well known African-American college in

Atlanta; Father and Grandfather studied here also

Education Con’t Studied theology at Crozer Theological

Seminary near Chester, PA Elected class president Graduated as class valedictorian Won a fellowship from Crozer; enrolled in

graduate program at Boston University Completed residence in 1953; earned

doctorate in 1955 Met his wife, Coretta Scott, during his studies in

Boston

Montgomery Bus Boycott Named president of Montgomery

Improvement Association (MIA) Spurred by arrest of Rosa Parks

Primary spokesman for movement Formed pacifist protest strategy

Combined Christian social gospel ideas with nonviolent precept of Mohandus Ghandi

Success: Supreme Court outlawed bus segregation

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Founded in 1957 Purpose: coordinate civil rights

activities throughout the South President of the SCLC

First Assassination Attempt (1958) Stride Toward Freedom

Memoir of Montgomery Bus Boycott Signing copies at Blumstein’s

Department Store in Harlem, NY on September 20, 1958

42 yr-old Izola Ware Curry stabbed King

Doctor: “he was a sneeze away from death”

King in India American Friends

Service Committee sends King on month long trip to India

Strengthen understanding of Ghandi

Reaffirms nonviolent strategy

Return to Atlanta Moved him and family back to

Atlanta in 1960 Be closer to headquarters of the

struggling SCLC Also became co-pastor with father

at Ebenezer Baptist Church

Albany Movement Torn between increasing militant

protesting 1961 and 1962: had differences with

Nonviolent Coordinating Committee King arrested twice during protests

Left Albany after released without achieving goal

His role as civil rights leader questioned

Birmingham Campaign Initiated by SCLC in 1963 Most massive civil rights protest at

time King arrested on April 12

Kennedy Admin. Intervenes Televised pictures of event led to

national outcry President Kennedy enacts major civil

rights legislation as a result

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Memorable “I have a dream…” speech

(August 28, 1968) Attended by 200,000+ and culmination of

civil rights protests in the North Goal: African-American quest to enjoy civil

liberties listed in U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence

I have a dream speech Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” (1963) Nobel Piece Prize (1964)

Limited Influence Black Radicals and Black Nationalism

(Malcom X) diminish King’s influence King refused to abandon his Ghandian

school of thought and would not be persuaded by black nationalists

Touched upon in Where Do We Go From Here?

Remained in spotlight Protested Vietnam War

Poor People’s Campaign / Memphis Sanitation Strike Last work in 1967 Designed to strengthen anti-poverty

efforts by federal government Also involved in Memphis sanitation

workers strike in Tennessee King led thousands on a march through

downtown Memphis (March 28, 1968) King receives backlash for riots and looters

Assassination of MLK King returned to Memphis in early

April to address audience at Bishop Charles J. Mason Temple

The following evening (April 4, 1968), King Assassinated on the Balcony of the Lorrain Motel in Memphis by white segregationist, James Earl Ray

After His Death Posthumously published essay “A

Testament of Hope” 1969 Urged blacks to refrain from violence of black

nationalists His wife, Coretta Scott King, established

the “King Center” in Atlanta Teach nonviolent social change

Coretta Scott King successfully petitioned congress for national holiday in husband’s honor First celebrated in 1986

Sources http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php

/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_martin_luther_king_jr_biography/

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe5P59Taekc

All images accessed through Google.com