Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

Timeline Photo Gallery Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama

Martin is Born Martin Luther King, Jr. is born to Rev. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr. (former Alberta Christine Williams) in Atlanta, Georgia. January 15, 1929

Segregation Laws Largely because of Plessey v. Ferguson, racial segregation reigned supreme in the South from the 1890's until the 1950's. Confederate Flag

Martin’s Childhood 1935 – 1944 Dr. King attends David T. Howard Elementary School, Atlanta University Laboratory School, and Booker T. Washington High School. He passes the entrance examination to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia without graduating from high school. As a young boy, Martin had to see the inequality, injustice and racial tension that was in America. He did not like this. Martin and his big sister Christine.

Reverend King 1947 Dr. King is licensed to preach February 25 Dr. King is ordained to the Baptist ministry and appointed associate pastor at Ebenezer. June 8 Dr. King graduates from Morehouse College with a BA degree in Sociology. September Dr. King enters Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. After hearing Dr. A. J. Muste and Dr. Mordecai W. Johnson preach on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, he begins to study Gandhi seriously.

Influenced by Gandhi … Non-violent advocate Dr. King with wife Coretta

Rosa Parks Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white - she was arrested.

Dr. King is Arrested For travelling 30 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The government lies about Martin Luther King, Jr. to attempt to stop him from fighting back against racial discrimination.

Dr. King Marches for Civil Rights Bobby Kennedy

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X I Have A Dream Today Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? -- Martin L. King

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers." Martin Luther King, Jr. "I think there are plenty of good people in America, but there are also plenty of bad people in America and the bad ones are the ones who seem to have all the power and be in these positions to block things that you and I need. Because this is the situation, you and I have to preserve the right to do what is necessary to bring an end to that situation, and it doesn't mean that I advocate violence, but at the same time I am not against using violence in self- defense. I don't even call it violence when it's self-defense, I call it intelligence." Malcolm X

Racial Demonstration 1960’s Olympics Black Panthers…Nation of Islam

“I Have a Dream” Speech

Lorraine Hotel Memphis, Tennesee April 4, 1968, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated.

MLK Day is Signed Into Law President Ronald Reagan signs a law making the MLK Holiday.

Awards – 1950’s Time - One of the Most Outstanding PersonalitiesTime Who's Who in America - ListedWho's Who in America NAACP - Spingarn MedalNAACP National Newspaper Publishers - The Russwurm AwardNational Newspaper Publishers Guardian Association of the Police Department of New York - The Second Annual Achievement AwardPolice Department of New York Link Magazine of New Delhi - one of sixteen world leaders who had contributed most to the advancement of freedom during that year

Awards – 1960’s Time - Man of the YearTime Laundry, Dry Cleaning, and Die Workers International Union - American of the Decade United Federation of Teachers - John Dewey AwardUnited Federation of Teachers Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago - John F. Kennedy Award Nobel Foundation - Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Foundation - Nobel Peace Prize Jamaican Government - Marcus Garvey Prize for Human RightsJamaican Government Southern Christian Leadership Conference - Rosa L. Parks Award

How will YOU improve the world? Dr. King helped make America a fairer place.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 17, 2011