Did you all know that Martin Luther King ,Jr., was born Michael King, Jr.?Born, Michael King, Jr., he was the middle child of Michael King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King.His Dad, Michael, Sr., served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, upon the death of his father-in-law, who was the churchs pastor. At this point, the elder King decided to change his name to Martin Luther to honor the famed Protestant religious leader. His son soon decided to adopt the name as well. The King Family was a religious family and tried to shield their children from the harsh realities that were alive and well in the country. They believed racism and segregation to be an affront to Gods will. Martin, Sr., discouraged this and taught these lessons to his children. Later years, Martin, Jr., would do the same. Dr. King was so advanced in school that he was able to skip the 9th. and 11th. grades and entered college at age 15.A graduate in 1948, with a degree in sociology, he enrolled in a Bible Class that sparked renewed enthusiasm for the ministry. He later, enrolled in the liberal Crozier Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelors of Divinity. He later ,earned a Ph. D. at the age of 26, from Boston University.It was during this time that he met Coretta Scott, his future wife.While completing his dissertation work, he became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabaman .Martin became directly involved in the civil rights act movement after the head of the local NAACP chapter met with him on the night that Rosa Parks had been arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Dr. King helped institute the Montg., Bus Boycott . During all this, his home was bombed, because of his involvement in the boycott, and he was arrested for conspiracy. His work finally paid off on Dec. 21st., 1956, when the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation on public transportation was illegal. Dr. King promoted nonviolent protests against unfairness to African Americans, while urging peace and equal treatment to all people, regardless of race. The March on Washington took place on August 28th., 1963. About 250,000 demonstrators were involved in the march ,and was the largest demonstration in the nations capital up to that time. It was in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King issued his famous ,I Have a Dream speech .He later met with Pres. Kennedy to appeal for greater rights for the African Americans and end the segregation.As a result, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10th., 1964, at the age of 35.He was the youngest person ever to receive that honor.He donated all the prize money to his racial equality effort. Throughout the 1960s. he expanded his Civil Rights Movement to other cities.He was often critized for his beliefs. In April 1968, a labor strike in Memphis drew his attention, and he gave a speech about the sanitation labor dispute, which would prove prophetic. On the next day, April 5th., 1968, Dr. King was hit by a snipers bullet while standing on the terrace, outside his room at the Lorraine Motel. Dr. Kings words from the previous day, including, Ive seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But, I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land, were haunting. James Earl Ray was charged with the assassination. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Americans have celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as a federal holiday, since 1986. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. Many streets have been named in his honor. Dr. King remains a source of inspiration decades after his death.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 04:32:24 +0000
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