Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Hero English GEMS Group 4

Early Years Born January 15, 1929 as Michael Luther King - changed his name Studied at Morehouse College (a school for blacks) and Boston University Married Coretta Scott and had 2 sons and 2 daughters

Civil Rights Executive Member of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Early in December 1955, he became the leader of the bus boycott in Alabama

Montgomery Line Bus Boycott Started December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, refused to give up her seat to a white man – she got arrested Blacks were the majority of bus riders, but they were still made to stand for the whites Blacks got angry and did not ride buses for 382 days, depriving companies of revenues

Bus Boycott Government was forced to pass a law stating there should be equal seats of whites and blacks on buses King was threatened, bombed, abused, but emerged as a true leader of the blacks Believed firmly in nonviolence to achieve goals

He Had a Dream Elected leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Preached about using peaceful means wherever inspiration was needed Youngest man to win Nobel Peace Prize at 35 years old Used prize money to fund Civil Rights movement

Historic Speech Directed peaceful march in Washington DC at the Lincoln Memorial “I Have a Dream” speech His vision – a world where blacks and whites would live peacefully side by side Whites were brothers of blacks, because they “shared a common destiny” Nonviolence – “we will meet physical force with soul force”

Bombing in Birmingham On September 15, 1963, a bomb was dropped on 16th Street Baptist Church Killed four kids: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Denise McNair Look at our book “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” – it is dedicated to the 4 dead girls

Difficulties The Black Panther group, led by Malcolm X, began violent demonstrations, which were against King’s principles “Black Power” Many supporters of King began associating him with Black Panthers, so they started shunning him King talked to Malcolm X, to no avail

“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” April 4, 1968, King gave last speech “ I've been to the mountaintop. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain and I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

The Leader Falls On April 4, 1968, after the speech, King returned to the Lorraine Motel On the balcony, Martin Luther King was shot by James Earl Ray (a violent racist) He was 39 years old

Icon of Human Rights Inspired South African Albert Lutuli to use nonviolence to fight apartheid Lutuli won Nobel Peace Prize also Civil Rights Law was passed, so blacks could vote

The Legacy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – 3rd Monday of January (Jan 15-20) Martin Luther King, Jr memorial now under construction at National Mall in Washington, DC Pres. Barack Obama, a black American, was elected in 2008 – a historic event