As a minister, leader, civil rights activist,
and effective communicator, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. inspired many by his words
of wisdom and life. He helped to change
the mindset of generations with his
challenge to live free. But his life was also
characterized by hardship and struggle,
obstacles and trials.
Though his life was not perfect, it’s said
that he was most influenced by the words
and teachings of Jesus.
Through opposition and even through
death, Dr. King overcame because of the
power of Christ. Through peaceful means,
choosing love and forgiveness, willing to
stand courageously for what was right, the
life of Martin Luther King, Jr. still
challenges us today.
20 Things You May Not Know
about Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in 1929
and named Michael King, Jr. But after his
dad, inspired by a trip to Germany and the
Protestant Reformation leader Martin
Luther, changed his own name to Martin
Luther King, he also changed his son’s
name to Martin Luther King, Jr. at the age
of 5. - At the age of 12, King’s grandmother
died of a heart attack. He blamed himself
for her death and even attempted suicide
afterwards by jumping out of a second-
story window. - King wrestled with bouts of depression
during his growing up years. Though his
father was a preacher, he was originally
very skeptical about Christianity and
struggled with doubt. It’s known that he
later concluded the Bible has “many
profound truths which one cannot escape”
and decided to further his learning at
seminary. - He skipped both the 9th and 12th grades
of high school but was able to begin college
at the age of 15 after passing the entrance
exam. He graduated with a bachelor’s
degree at the age of 19. - Dr. King went on from there to study
theology at Crozer Theological Seminary in
Pennsylvania, where he became the student
body president. It is said that he made the
choice to enter the ministry after deciding
that the church offered the most assuring
way to answer “an inner urge to serve
humanity.” - He and new wife Coretta Scott King
married in 1953 and spent their first
wedding night in a funeral parlor owned by
a friend, because honeymoon suites were
not available for African Americans at that
time in history. - Martin Luther King, Jr. first became a
pastor at age 25 at Dexter Avenue Baptist
Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Then in
1959, five years later, he went on to co-
pastor alongside his father at Ebenezer
Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. - In 1956, the King’s home was bombed, in
response to his involvement with the
Montgomery Bus Boycott the year before.
Though his wife and firstborn daughter
were home at the time, no one, thankfully,
was injured. - In 1958, Dr. King was attacked at a
Harlem book signing by a mentally ill
woman. Reports say, “The stabbing nearly
cost Dr. King his life, requiring hours of
delicate surgery to remove Ms. Curry’s
blade, a seven-inch ivory-handled steel
letter opener, which had lodged near his
heart. If he had so much as sneezed, his
doctors later told him, he would not have
survived.” - He was arrested 30 times during his
lifetime. - He was under surveillance by the FBI
for years though no ties to alleged
communist influence were ever found or
validated. - He had many close friends and strong
supporters through life such as Dr. Billy
Graham, Maya Angelou, and Dr. Ralph
Abernathy. He traveled to India and greatly
respected the teaching of Mahatma Gandhi.
He was influenced by the writings and
beliefs of Abraham Lincoln and Henry
David Thoreau. He was a huge Star Trek
fan. But most notably of all, it’s said that
his greatest influences in life came from the
teachings of Jesus Christ through the
gospels. - Dr. King’s final words were to his long-
time friend and musician Ben Branch, “Ben,
make sure you play ‘Take My Hand,
Precious Lord’ in the meeting tonight. Play
it real pretty.” Moments later, on April 4,
1968, he was assassinated on the balcony
of his hotel room. - Though he died at only age 39, medical
autopsy revealed that his heart was like a
60 yr. old, thought mostly to be due to
stress. - Dr. King’s own mother, Mrs. Alberta
Williams King, was also shot and killed in
1974, years after his own death, as she sat
at the organ to play in the Ebenezer Baptist
Church in Atlanta. - According to nobelprize.org, “At the age
of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was
the youngest man to have received the
Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his
selection, he announced that he would turn
over the prize money of $54,123 to the
furtherance of the civil rights movement.” - It’s said that the fight to make Martin
Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a holiday took 32
yrs. President Ronald Reagan signed the
bill in November 1983. The first federal
holiday was celebrated in 1986. - He is one of only two Americans who
has a federal holiday named after him, the
other is George Washington. - Dr. King was the author of many books
and famous speeches. He is known as one
of the greatest communicators of all time.
It is known that one of his most memorable
speeches, I Have a Dream , was improvised
at the end when he left the prepared text in
response to gospel singer Mahalia
Jackson’s cry, “Tell them about the dream
Martin!” - Though he had received many honors
and awards throughout his life, and even
after his tragic death, he asked that at the
end of his life, he only be remembered for
other things.
His Words Remain a Legacy
“I’d like somebody to mention that day that
Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life
serving others… And I want you to say that I
tried to love and serve humanity…all of the
other shallow things will not matter. I won’t
have any money to leave behind. I won’t have
the fine and luxurious things of life to leave
behind. But I just want to leave a committed
life behind.”
Indeed, he did just that. His great legacy of
love, strength, and freedom remain
powerful, still to this day.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
indeed.” – John 8:36
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