Martin Luther King Jr. remains as the towering civil rights figure of our time. In the many years since his tragic passing, Dr. King’s legacy has remained largely intact.
While the “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington more than 50 years ago immortalized him, there are other interesting and valuable facts about the icon that should be known on the federal holiday that celebrates his born day (which is actually January 15).
Remembering the example of Dr. King is especially resonating this week as we see a living example of King’s “dream” in President Barack Obama hand over the reigns to the White House to President-Elect Donald J. Trump. If there has ever been a more well-timed moment to harken back to what King stood for, now is that time.
Hip-Hop Wired looks at 10 Valuable Facts about Martin Luther King Jr. Let us know if we missed anything in the comments.
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Photos: AP Photo, Getty
Martin Luther King Jr. Was Born Michael King Jr.
Born in 1929 in Atlanta, his father changed both their names to Martin Luther in honor of the German monk and reformer. There has been some conflicting reports in that fact, however.
He Once Didn’t Believe In God
As a teenager, Dr. King lost his faith although he eventually went on to become a minister.
Dr. King Entered Morehouse College As A Teen
After being skipped a couple of grades in high school, Dr. King bypassed the traditional route of academics and entered the famed Morehouse College at the age of 15.
Dr. King Earned Three College Degrees
After earning his B.A. In Sociology from Morehouse, Dr. King went on to earn his Bachelor’s In Divinity from the Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He later earned his Ph. D. From Boston College in 1955.
King Survived An Attempt On His Life In 1958
Most know of Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, but 10 years prior a mentally ill woman stabbed him at a book signing in Harlem.
King Was The Youngest Person To Win The Nobel Peace Prize
In 1964, Dr. King was the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was 35 years old.
A Federal Holiday For King Was Proposed Four Days After Death
Members of Congress attempted to honor the great civil rights leader with a federal holiday just four days after his death. It took 15 years before legislation was passed to honor Dr. King.
Dr. King’s Opponents Saw Him As A Radical And Communist
Although racial harmony and civil rights were at the heart of Dr. King’s message, he later switched into an anti-war stance as he became critical of the Vietnam War and capitalism. This switch in tone lost him favor among civil rights activists and newspapers nationwide.
Dr. King Was A Prolific Writer
Between 1957 and 1968, King delivered over 2500 speeches, wrote five books and contributed several articles to magazines and newspapers on a variety of subjects.
Dr. King & Wife Coretta Scott King Spent Their Wedding Night In A Funeral Home
When Dr. King and Coretta Scott King married in 1953 in Alabama, they were not allowed to stay in a whites-only hotel. Instead, they spent their wedding night within a family friend’s funeral home.
