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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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”

8. 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

9. 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

10. “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.”

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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