Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968

Atlanta 1929 Michael Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15th to schoolteacher, Alberta King and Baptist minister, Michael Luther King residing at 501 Auburn Avenue. His father later changed both their names to Martin Luther King.

King grew up in the church and was well-read in the scripture King grew up in the church and was well-read in the scripture. Following the family tradition, he decided to become a minister.

King entered Morehouse College at the age of 15 and graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.

King married Coretta Scott on June 18, 1953.

King enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity Degree in 1951.

King began his ministry in 1954 as the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

He received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Boston University on June 5, 1955.

December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand for her race by refusing to give her seat to a white passenger. This was the catalyst for beginning the Civil Rights Movement. Following this event, King was selected as president of the Montgomery Improvement Association.

Sit-ins at “all white” lunch counters promoted King’s mission of non-violent protest.

A Media Day was held on May 20, 1956 after the bus boycott in Montgomery. The boycott lasted 381 days.

Pictured here with wife, Coretta,Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Pictured here with wife, Coretta,Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began to establish himself as the national leader of the civil rights movement, leading boycotts and staging protests against segregation in the South.

“And you know, my friends, there comes a time when people get tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression.” These words helped to begin his leadership role for the cause of African American equality!

King, inspired by Gandhi's non-militant stance, began to advocate nonviolent protest. He began to travel and speak, making an average of 208 speeches per year.

King’s mission was to empower his people. His platform was: We can stick together. Our leaders do not have to sell out. Threats and violence do not intimidate us. We believe in ourselves. Economics is part of our struggle. We have a powerful weapon: non-violent resistance. We as Negroes have arrived!

While King was at the Hotel Albert in Harlem promoting his book, Stride Toward Freedom, he was stabbed by a deranged African American woman. He recuperated in the hospital following the incident.

In 1960, King was again arrested In 1960, King was again arrested. He received strong encouragement as a result of a telephone call to Coretta from John F. Kennedy.

“Letter From Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968

Historical Context “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Racial segregation was wide spread and the South was a place of great racial tension. King, along with others, were in non-violent battles to stop the segregation.

Main Points All communities in America are related. “Letter From Birmingham Jail” All communities in America are related. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Four basic steps to nonviolent campaign: Collection of the facts to determine whether injustice exist Negotiation Self-purification Direct action

Main Points “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Nonviolent protests draw attention to what has previously been ignored. Those with power and privilege don’t give up voluntarily; waiting for the right time never comes. “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter.”

Main Points “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Individuals have the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. Unjust laws are those who the majority compels the minority to obey but does not make it binding on themselves. Two types of forces in the Negro community The complacent which are the ones who have adjusted to segregation. The other are those filled with bitterness and hatred who would advocate violence.

Main Points “Letter From Birmingham Jail” “The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march;” The churches are not standing up to the moral responsibility.

Historical Significance Racial inequality is still today embedded in our social setting. Exit Ticket: How are Dr. King’s struggles reflected in society today? Explain. Do you think King’s actions were in vain?

King spoke to 250,000 civil rights supporters during the “March on Washington” August 28, 1963.

Dr. King made his famous “I have a dream” speech.

Many opponents to Dr. King’s leadership during the Civil Rights Movement tried to intimidate him and his family. While King was in St. Augustine, Florida to meet with other integration leaders, a shot was fired through a window in his rented beach cottage. No one was home at the time of the shooting.

On December 10, 1965, Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Fundamental Christianity Church Religious ideas drawn from tradition Dr. King’s success was attributed to his consistently shared principles: Fundamental Christianity Church Religious ideas drawn from tradition America’s founding ideas

During the Vietnam War, King began to rethink his mission and turned his focus from racial discrimination to problems of poverty and economic injustice. King expressed his disenchantment with President Johnson’s Vietnam policies.

On April 4, 1968, while standing on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, King was assassinated by James Earl Ray.

The country, along with Coretta and King’s young daughter Bernice, mourned his death.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is entombed at the Freedom Hall Complex Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is entombed at the Freedom Hall Complex. This site was listed as a National Historic Landmark on May 5, 1977 and was made a National Historic Site on October 10, 1980.

President Ronald Reagan signed the bill to make January 20th, the celebration of Dr. King’s birthday a national holiday.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continues to make an impact in the life of today’s people! His story lives on…