Childhood and Education Journey of Martin Luther King Jr. in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a pivotal leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, advocating for racial equality through nonviolent resistance. As a Baptist minister and activist, he challenged segregation and discrimination against people of color. King led marches, boycotts, and protests, inspiring significant legislative changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His commitment to nonviolence, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King's legacy continues to influence movements for social justice and equality worldwide, though his life was tragically cut short by assassination in 1968.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1920: Michael Sr. and Alberta begin dating

In 1920, Michael Sr. and Alberta began dating, leading to their marriage in 1926.

November 25, 1926: Marriage of Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams

On November 25, 1926, Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams married. Alberta's parents' house was where King was born.

January 15, 1929: Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth

On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr., originally named Michael King Jr., was born. He later became a pivotal leader in the American civil rights movement.

January 15, 1929: Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth

On January 15, 1929, Michael King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Michael King Sr. and Alberta King (née Williams).

August 1934: Name change to Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr.

In August 1934, Michael King Sr. changed his name to Martin Luther King Sr., and his son's name to Martin Luther King Jr., after a trip that included visiting sites associated with Martin Luther.

September 1935: School Segregation Experience

In September 1935, Martin King Jr. began attending a segregated school for black children while his white friend attended a separate school, leading to his first experiences with racial discrimination.

1936: Civil Rights March Led by Martin King Sr.

In 1936, Martin King Sr. led a civil rights march in Atlanta to protest voting rights discrimination, influencing Martin Jr.'s views on activism.

1939: Church Choir Performance in "Gone with the Wind" Premiere

In 1939, Martin King Jr. sang in his church choir, dressed as a slave, for an all-white audience at the Atlanta premiere of the film "Gone with the Wind".

September 1940: Enrollment at Atlanta University Laboratory School

In September 1940, at the age of 11, King was enrolled at the Atlanta University Laboratory School for the seventh grade.

May 18, 1941: Death of King's Grandmother

On May 18, 1941, King's maternal grandmother died, causing him significant emotional distress and leading to a suicide attempt.

1941: Death of Jennie Celeste Parks

Until Jennie's death in 1941, the family home was on the second floor of Alberta's parents' Victorian house, where King was born.

1942: Assistant Manager and High School Enrollment

In 1942, at age 13, King became the youngest assistant manager of a newspaper delivery station and enrolled in Booker T. Washington High School.

April 13, 1944: King's first public speech

On April 13, 1944, King gave his first public speech in an oratorical contest, highlighting racial inequality and winning the competition, but experienced discrimination on the bus ride home.

June 1944: King's Integrated North Experience

In June 1944, King wrote a letter describing his experience working in Connecticut, highlighting the lack of racial discrimination compared to the South.

1944: King Enrolls at Morehouse College

In 1944, at the age of 15, King enrolled at Morehouse College after passing the entrance examination.

1947: King Chooses to Enter the Ministry

In 1947, at the age of 18, King decided to enter the ministry, influenced by Benjamin Mays and a desire to serve humanity.

1948: King Graduates from Morehouse College

In 1948, at the age of nineteen, King graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.

1950: Desegregation in Alabama

In the late 1950's, the Creek in Alabama were trying to desegregate schools. Through King's intervention the problem was quickly resolved.

1951: Doctoral Studies and Ministry

In 1951, King began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University and worked as an assistant minister at Boston's historic Twelfth Baptist Church.

1951: Graduation and Doctoral Studies

In 1951, King graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity. He also applied to the University of Edinburgh for a doctorate but chose Boston instead.

1952: Socialist Economic Views

In a 1952 letter to Coretta Scott, King expressed that he was much more socialistic in his economic theory than capitalistic.

June 18, 1953: Marriage to Coretta Scott

On June 18, 1953, King married Coretta Scott on the lawn of her parents' house in Heiberger, Alabama.

1954: Called as Pastor

In 1954, at the age of 25, King was called as pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

March 1955: Claudette Colvin's Protest

In March 1955, Claudette Colvin refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, leading up to the Montgomery bus boycott.

June 5, 1955: Received PhD

On June 5, 1955, King received his PhD with a dissertation titled A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.

December 1, 1955: Rosa Parks' Arrest

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus, an event that led to the Montgomery bus boycott.

1955: Montgomery Bus Boycott

In 1955, King oversaw the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a significant event in the civil rights movement protesting segregation on public transportation.

1955: King Becomes Civil Rights Leader

In 1955, Martin Luther King Jr. rose to prominence as a leader in the civil rights movement, advocating for racial equality and justice in the United States.

1955: Birth of Yolanda King

In 1955, Yolanda King, the first child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, was born.

1957: Founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

In 1957, King, along with other civil rights activists, founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to conduct nonviolent protests for civil rights reform.

1957: Birth of Martin Luther King III

In 1957, Martin Luther King III, son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, was born.

September 20, 1958: Stabbing in Harlem

On September 20, 1958, King was stabbed in the chest by Izola Curry while signing books in Harlem. He underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for several weeks.

April 1959: King's Trip to India

In April 1959, Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to India, which deepened his understanding of nonviolent resistance and strengthened his commitment to America's civil rights struggle.

September 1959: Speech at the University of Arizona

In September 1959, King gave a speech at the University of Arizona and King stated his belief that one must not use force in this struggle "but match the violence of his opponents with his suffering."

December 1959: Return to Atlanta

In December 1959, King announced his return to Atlanta at the request of the SCLC to serve as co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

March 1960: Atlanta Student Movement and Sit-ins

From March 1960 onwards, the Atlanta Student Movement organized sit-ins to desegregate businesses and public spaces.

May 4, 1960: Arrest for Driving Without a License

On May 4, 1960, King was arrested for driving without a license in Atlanta, leading to a probationary sentence.

March 7, 1961: Desegregation Deal Reached

On March 7, 1961, King and a group of Black elders notified student leaders that a deal had been reached for the city's lunch counters to desegregate in fall 1961.

November 1961: Formation of the Albany Movement

In November 1961, the Albany Movement, a desegregation coalition, was formed in Albany, Georgia.

December 15, 1961: King's Involvement in Albany Movement

On December 15, 1961, King visited Albany, Georgia, to support the Albany Movement and was arrested for protesting segregation.

1961: Birth of Dexter Scott King

In 1961, Dexter Scott King, son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, was born.

March 1962: King Preaches to Native American Congregation

In March 1962, King returned to Old Pueblo where he preached again to a Native American congregation.

July 1962: King Jailed in Albany

In July 1962, King returned to Albany and chose to go to jail rather than pay a fine for protesting segregation; however, Police Chief Laurie Pritchett discreetly arranged for King's fine to be paid and ordered his release after three days.

1962: Gandhi Society for Human Rights

In 1962, King and the Gandhi Society produced a document that called on President Kennedy to issue an executive order to deliver a blow for civil rights as a kind of Second Emancipation Proclamation.

April 1963: Birmingham Campaign

In April 1963, the SCLC, led by King, began a campaign against racial segregation and economic injustice in Birmingham, Alabama.

August 28, 1963: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

On August 28, 1963, King, representing the SCLC, was among the leaders of the "Big Six" civil rights organizations who were instrumental in the organization of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

1963: Native American Contingent at March on Washington

During the 1963 March on Washington there was a sizable Native American contingent, including many from South Dakota and from the Navajo nation.

1963: Birth of Bernice King

In 1963, Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, was born.

1963: March on Washington

In 1963, King collaborated in the March on Washington, and acceded to the wishes of President Kennedy in changing the focus of the march.

1963: "I Have a Dream" Speech and Birmingham Protests

In 1963, King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington and helped organize nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama.

February 6, 1964: King Delivers Inaugural Speech at the New School

On February 6, 1964, King delivered the inaugural speech of "The American Race Crisis" lecture series at the New School, drawing parallels between African Americans and India's untouchables based on a conversation with Jawaharlal Nehru.

March 1964: King and SCLC Join St. Augustine Movement

In March 1964, King and the SCLC collaborated with Robert Hayling's movement in St. Augustine, Florida, to advocate for civil rights, leading to marches, arrests, and national media attention.

March 18, 1964: King Interview with Robert Penn Warren

On March 18, 1964, in an interview with Robert Penn Warren, King compared his activism to his father's, highlighting his training in non-violence as a key difference, and discussed the next phase of the civil rights movement and integration.

May 7, 1964: King Speaks at Saint Francis College

On May 7, 1964, King delivered a speech at Saint Francis College during a symposium called "The Negro and the Quest for Identity", emphasizing the need to eliminate racial superiority and inferiority through nonviolent tactics.

November 1964: King Supports Scripto Factory Labor Strike

In November 1964, King supported a labor strike by Scripto factory workers in Atlanta, helping elevate the local dispute to a national event and organizing a nationwide boycott of Scripto products.

December 1964: King and SCLC Join SNCC in Selma

In December 1964, King and the SCLC collaborated with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in Selma, Alabama, to focus on voter registration.

1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964

In 1964, King organized and led marches for civil rights, many of which were successfully enacted into law with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

1964: Urging vote against Barry Goldwater

In 1964, King urged his supporters and people of goodwill to vote against Republican Senator Barry Goldwater for president, stating his election "would be a tragedy".

January 2, 1965: King Defies Injunction in Selma

On January 2, 1965, King defied a local judge's injunction by speaking at Brown Chapel in Selma, temporarily halting civil rights activity until that point.

March 7, 1965: Bloody Sunday in Selma

On March 7, 1965, the first attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery was violently suppressed by mob and police forces, an event known as "Bloody Sunday". King was not present.

March 25, 1965: Selma to Montgomery March Concludes

On March 25, 1965, the march from Selma to Montgomery concluded at the state capitol, where King delivered his "How Long, Not Long" speech, emphasizing the inevitability of equal rights for African Americans.

1965: Advocating for Compensation for Historical Wrongs

In 1965, King advocated that black Americans, as well as other disadvantaged Americans, should be compensated for historical wrongs.

1965: Selma to Montgomery Marches

In 1965, King helped organize two of the three Selma to Montgomery marches, advocating for voting rights during the Selma voting rights movement.

1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965

In 1965, King organized and led marches for civil rights, many of which were successfully enacted into law with the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

1965: Nhất Hạnh writes to King

In 1965, Thích Nhất Hạnh wrote a letter to Martin Luther King Jr. entitled: "In Search of the Enemy of Man".

August 5, 1966: Marquette Park March in Chicago

On August 5, 1966, a march through Marquette Park in Chicago, led by King, was met with violence and hostility, highlighting the challenges faced by the civil rights movement in the North.

1966: Nhất Hạnh Meets With King

In 1966, Nhất Hạnh met with King and urged him to publicly denounce the Vietnam War.

1966: King Moves to Chicago's West Side

In 1966, after successes in the South, King and Ralph Abernathy moved to a slum in North Lawndale, Chicago, to show support for the poor and address civil rights issues in the North.

April 4, 1967: Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence Speech

On April 4, 1967, King delivered his "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" speech at Riverside Church in New York City, criticizing the U.S.'s role in the Vietnam War and connecting it to economic injustice.

April 15, 1967: King Speaks at Anti-War March to the U.N.

On April 15, 1967, King spoke at an anti-war march from Central Park to the United Nations, addressing issues of civil rights and the draft.

November 1967: Honorary Doctorate from Newcastle University

In November 1967, King received an honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from Newcastle University, becoming the first African American the institution had recognized in this way.

1967: King's Massey Lecture

In 1967, King gave his Massey Lecture, indicating that he wasn't fond of the hippie culture which developed from the anti-war movement, despite his growing public opposition to the Vietnam War.

1967: King Nominates Thích Nhất Hạnh for Nobel Peace Prize

In 1967, King nominated Thích Nhất Hạnh for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his ideas for peace and contributions to world brotherhood.

1967: Persuading Nichelle Nichols to Stay on Star Trek

In 1967, King persuaded actress Nichelle Nichols not to leave Star Trek, explaining that her character signified a future of racial cooperation.

1967: CIA Document on King's Role in Chicago

In 1967, the CIA created a document that downplayed King's role in the "black militant situation" in Chicago, according to a source who stated King "sought at least constructive, positive projects."

January 13, 1968: King Calls for March on Washington

On January 13, 1968, King called for a large march on Washington against "one of history's most cruel and senseless wars".

February 4, 1968: King's Last Sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church

On February 4, 1968, King gave his last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was later played at his funeral at his widow's request.

March 29, 1968: King Supports Memphis Sanitation Workers

On March 29, 1968, King went to Memphis, Tennessee, to support striking black sanitation workers fighting for higher wages and better treatment.

1968: Poor People's Campaign Organized

In 1968, King and the SCLC organized the "Poor People's Campaign" to address economic justice issues, aiming to create an "economic bill of rights".

1968: Beliefs on Presidential Candidates

In 1968, King believed Robert F. Kennedy would make a good president but wouldn't beat Johnson in the Democratic Party presidential primaries. He also expressed support for Rockefeller, Romney and Percy.

1968: King Considers Running for President

In 1968, King considered a proposal to run against President Johnson in the presidential election, supported by anti-war Democrats, but ultimately decided against it, feeling better suited to activism.

1968: King's Assassination and Poor People's Campaign

In 1968, King was planning the Poor People's Campaign when he was assassinated on April 4th in Memphis, Tennessee.

1968: NIYC Supported King's campaigns

In 1968, The National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) was especially supportive in King's campaigns especially the Poor People's Campaign.

1968: World Constituent Assembly Convened

In 1968, as a result of King's signing the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a world constitution, a World Constituent Assembly convened to draft and adopt the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.