OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Few individuals in American history have made an impact as profound as Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout his tragically short life, King was a minister, activist, and scholar whose legacy continues to inspire generations. Though he was assassinated before reaching his 40th birthday, King’s life was filled with notable moments that changed the course of history and positively impacted millions. The following highlights some of the most significant events in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life.
January 15, 1929: Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Martin Luther King, Sr., was a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King would later follow in his footsteps.
September 20, 1944: At just 15 years old, King began his freshman year at Morehouse College. Admitted after passing the entrance exam while still a high school junior, King attended the same college where his father earned his ministerial degree.
August 6, 1946: King’s letter to the editor of The Atlanta Constitution was published, expressing his belief in equal rights for Black Americans. His parents viewed this as the first public sign of his growing leadership.
February 25, 1948: King was ordained and became assistant pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, embracing his family’s religious legacy.
June 8, 1948: King earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Morehouse College.
May 6-8, 1951: He graduated from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, delivering the valedictory address.
June 18, 1953: King married Coretta Scott in Marion, Alabama. Coretta Scott King would become a prominent activist in her own right, advocating for peace and social justice.
June 5, 1955: King earned his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University.
December 5, 1955: Following Rosa Parks’ arrest, King became president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
January 27, 1956: A threatening phone call strengthened King’s resolve to continue his activism.
January 30, 1956: King’s home was bombed while he was delivering a speech. Fortunately, his wife and daughter were unharmed.
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January 10-11, 1957: King was elected chairman of the newly formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), uniting Black ministers in the fight against segregation.
June 23, 1958: King met with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C., highlighting the growing national importance of the Civil Rights Movement.
September 17, 1958: King’s first book, Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, was published, detailing the bus boycott.
September 20, 1958: King survived a near-fatal stabbing during a book signing in Harlem, New York. Surgeons removed a seven-inch letter opener from his chest.
April 16, 1963: While jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, King penned his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, defending nonviolent protest.
August 28, 1963: King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, advocating for racial equality.
January 3, 1964: Time magazine named King its “Man of the Year,” recognizing his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.
December 10, 1964: King received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, for his nonviolent struggle against racial inequality.
March 17-25, 1965: King led the Selma to Montgomery marches, pivotal in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
June 7, 1966: King and other leaders continued James Meredith’s “March Against Fear” after Meredith was shot and wounded.
April 3, 1968: In Memphis, King gave his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” supporting striking sanitation workers.
April 4, 1968: King was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was laid to rest in Atlanta five days later.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy endures through his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and peace. His life’s work continues to inspire movements for civil rights and social change across the globe.