Early
Childhood: Martin
Luther King was born on the 15 of January 1929 in Atlanta,
Georgia. All his life he had to deal with racism. When he
was 6, he had two friends who were white. However, when
their parents found out he was black, they wouldn't let
them play together anymore. When he was 11, a white woman
hit him and called him a "nigger".His father,
Martin, was a pastor in a Baptist church. his mother, Alberta,
was a school teacher. He had an older sister and a younger
brother.
School
and College: Martin Luther went to
Morehouse College when he was 15. He decided to become a
minister and at 18 he was ordained in his father's church.
At Boston University, he achieved a Ph.D Degree in theology
and also met his wife Coretta Scott whom he married in 1953.
They had 2 sons and 2 daughters.
Non-violence:
Martin was impressed by the teachings of Henry Thoreau and
Gandhi on non-violent actions against racism. He said "I
came to feel that this was the only morally and practically
sound method open to oppressed people in their struggle
for freedom".
Boycott of segregated
buses:In December 1955, Martin lead
a group who wanted to boycott the segregated city buses.
During this time, his house was bombed but he still told
followers to "love one's enemies" as it says in
the Bible.
Non-violent
Sit-ins: In 1958, king became preseident
of a group called the Souther Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC). THis group was set up to carry on civil rights activities
in the South. martin inspired blacks throughout the South
to hold peaceful sit-ins and "freedom rides" protesting
segregated shopping, eating and buses.
I
have a Dream: On August 28, 1963,
Martin was the principal speaker at a giant civil rights
march on Washington. His " I have a Dream" speech
was the high point of the demonstration.
Nobel
Prize: In December 1964, Martin became
the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He regarded
it ont only as a personal honour but as a tribute to the
non-violent civil rights movement in America.
Assasination:
On the 4th of April 1968, Luther was
assasinated by a sniper as he supported a strike. His death
shocked the nation. He is buried in Atlanta under a monument
inscribed with the final words of his famous speech.
