The United States honors the most prominent figure in its civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday. Here are some lesser-known facts about his unique life.
Michael when he was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929. His father, Martin Luther King Sr., a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was also named Michael. However, in 1934, he took an eye-opening trip to Germany — where in 1517, a monk namedto the door of the Wittenberg castle church, igniting the Protestant Reformation. King Sr.
When he was 28, King Jr. officially revised his birth certificate. In 1957, he crossed out the name Michael and replaced it with “Martin Luther, Jr.” in black ink.A prodigy, King skipped at least two grades, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta before he was to nearby Morehouse College, a historically Black men’s school also attended by his father and grandfather.“My days in college were very exciting ones. There was a free atmosphere at Morehouse, and it was there I had my first frank discussion on race,” he laterWhen King was 19, in 1948, he finished college and enrolled at the Crozer Theological Seminary, where he was ordained as a Baptist minister.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sculpture commemorates Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in BostonNearly 60 years after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed thousands on the Boston Common, city officials unveiled a sculpture commemorating the civil rights leader and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
Read more »
Martin Luther King, Jr.—facts and informationA civil rights legend, Dr. King fought for justice through peaceful protest—and delivered some of the 20th century's most iconic speeches.
Read more »
Community activist and retired teacher leads Martin Luther King Jr. parade with loveArdelle Matthews, longtime community activist with her late husband (Bob Matthews), is the grand marshal in this year's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, which she and her husband have been instrumental in the continued growth and development of, celebrating the life and work of Dr. King.
Read more »
Where to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in HoustonMLK Day celebrations will be happening all weekend long in the Houston area, leading up to the national holiday. Here are a few of those scheduled events.
Read more »
How Did Martin Luther King Jr. Day Become a National Holiday?On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the entire nation pauses in remembrance of the Civil Rights icon. But did you know it took nearly 32 years of fighting for the day to become a federal holiday? NBCLX breaks down the events that led to a national celebration in honor of Dr. King.
Read more »
New 'random' Martin Luther King Jr. sculpture in Boston draws mixed reviewsA bronze sculpture called The Embrace honoring Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled Friday in Boston, but the 20-feet long and 26-feet wide bronze sculpture is drawing a lot of mixed reviews.
Read more »