Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We hope you enjoy this feature that tells you more about the man whose life, spirit and achievments we celebrate on this national holiday.

Martin Luther King, Jr. ("M.L." to family and friends) was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up there and throughout his childhood did exceptionally well in school. In fact, he skipped the ninth and twelfth grades at Booker T. Washington High School. And because of his high scores on a college entrance exam, he began studies at Atlanta's Morehouse College at the age of 15. After graduation from Morehouse, he entered Crozer Theological Seminary, where he studied to be a Baptist minister.

By 1948 "M.L." was ordained and began working at a church in Atlanta. Three years later, he enrolled in graduate studies in theology at Boston University, where he earned his doctorate degree in 1955.

In 1953 Rev. King, Jr. married Coretta Scott and they made their home in Montgomery Alabama. Two years later, Martin Luther King, Jr. was rallying people to support the famous bus boycott in Montgomery, which began after Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus to the "black" seats, as asked by the white bus driver.

Thoughout his studies and his ministry, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion of civil rights for black people. He led people in the struggle against racism, prejudice and segregation laws, trying to secure equal treatment and respect for all. He was arrested 30 times for his activities. As a powerful and charismatic public speaker, he had many followers. A huge number --- 250,000 --- of those followers turned out in the march on Washington, D.C. in 1963 to hear his "I Have a Dream" speech about an ideal world where skin color would make no difference. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed while he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1986, January 15 (King's birthday) was delcared a national holiday.

Be sure to check out the books listed here to learn more about this African-American hero.

-------- Shannon Maughan

MEET MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON (All Aboard Reading)