Martin Luther King Jr: A Civil Rights Hero!

Biography: The Story of a Civil Rights Hero

His Name at birth was Michael King, Jr., after his father. At the age of 5, he changed it to Martin Luther King Jr. King was the second oldest child of his family. His mom's name was Alberta Williams King and his dad’s name was Michael King. Martin Luther King, Jr. had one older sister. Her name was Christine. King also had one little brother. His name was A.D. Michael Luther King Jr. was usually called M.L for short. Martin Luther King, Jr’s father was a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to Suzanne M. Bourgoin, when King was in high school, he was doing so well that he skipped 9th and 12th grade. When Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 15 years old, he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Later on in Boston, he met Coretta Scott, a music student, from Marion, Alabama. King and Scott later got married in 1953. Together, they had 4 children. Their names were Yolanda, Dexter, Martin, and Bernice. In 1954, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1951, King began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University’s school of Theology. While King was there, some of the papers he wrote displayed little originality and some papers even contained plagiarism.

1st Influence: How King ended Segregation

My person is the Greatest American, because he ended segregation.

Martin Luther King Jr changed how America acts. All of the people on the earth can say and do anything they want. According to Suzanne M. Bourgoin, in December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for violating a segregated seating ordinance on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa did not want to move for a white American. So, King met with Alabama’s state chairman. African Americans boycotted. This lasted for over a year when it finally got discontinued. King became a national hero over night! Since then, the victory had not been easy. Being the President of MIA (Montgomery Improvement Association) life was in constant danger. King’s home was constantly bombed and he was threatened, harassed, arrested, and jailed. Also, white racists bombed his home in Montgomery, Alabama. Those people also threw rocks at him in Chicago. Today, anybody can sit where they want. They have the right to do anything they want to.

I think that by ending segregation, everybody was happier and more free to do whatever they wanted to.

2nd Influence: King created the Civil Rights Movement

My person is the Greatest American, because he created the Civil Rights Movement.

Martin Luther King Jr changed the way that Black Americans were treated. The Civil Rights Movement is where all Black Americans were treated equal. According to David J. Garrow, in King’s first Speech as a leader of the boycott, King told his black colleagues: “First and foremost, we are American citizens. …We are not here advocating violence. … The only weapon that we have… is the weapon of protest. … The great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for rights.” These boycotts were such a big success, that it won King national fame and identified him as a symbol of southern Blacks’ new efforts to fight racial injustice. In 1957, King was awarded the Spingarn Medal for his civil rights achievements. This was awarded by NAACP or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Finally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. The Civil rights act prohibited racial discrimination in public places and called for equal opportunity in employment and education. Today , the world is very different. Everyone is treated with equal respect. Every single person on this planet, has the same rights and laws as everyone else.

I think that when King created the Civil Rights Movement, it made all Black Americans feel free and respected.

Fun Facts

Did you know that when Marin Luther King Jr was born his name was Michael King Jr. When he was only 5 years old, he changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr.
Also, when King was in high school, he was apparently doing so well that he skipped 9th and 12th grade! WOW!
Did you know that when King was only 15 years old, he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Also, King has his own holiday!!!! How awesome is that!!!!!
Did you know that tht National Historic Burial site of King is only 2 blocks away from his childhood home: 501 Auburn Avenue.

Did you know that President Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson helped King pass the Civil Rights act!!