History of Martin Luther King Jr. in Timeline
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.
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.
1931: Michael King Sr. becomes pastor
In 1931, Michael King Sr. took over as pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church following the death of Senior pastor 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.
October 1956: King undecided on presidential candidate
In a letter from October 1956, King said he had not decided whether he would vote for Democrat Adlai Stevenson II or Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower at the 1956 presidential election, but that "In the past, I always voted the Democratic ticket."
1957: FBI Tracks King
In 1957, Hoover directed the FBI to begin tracking King due to suspicions of communist influence in social movements.
1957: Awarded Spingarn Medal
In 1957, King was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.
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.
1958: King's views on the Republican and Democratic Parties
In a 1958 interview, King expressed his view that neither the Republican nor the Democratic party was perfect.
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.
1959: Publication of "The Measure of a Man"
In 1959, King published "The Measure of a Man", containing his sermons "What is Man?" and "The Dimensions of a Complete Life."
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.
1960: Use of "agape" concept
Before 1960, King sometimes used the concept of "agape" (brotherly Christian love).
1960: King privately votes for Kennedy
In 1960, King privately voted for Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy.
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.
December 1963: FBI Surveillance Campaign Begins
In December 1963, the FBI launched an intensive campaign to neutralize Martin Luther King Jr. as an effective civil rights leader.
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: FBI COINTELPRO Investigation
From 1963 forward, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI's COINTELPRO targeted King, investigating him for alleged communist ties and infringing on his personal life.
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: Time Person of the Year
In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was named Time Person of the Year.
1963: FBI Fears Regarding Stanley Levison
In 1963, the FBI feared that Stanley Levison was acting as an 'agent of influence' over King, despite their own reports that Levison had left the Communist Party.
1963: FBI Wiretapping Authorization
In the fall of 1963, the FBI received authorization to wiretap King's phone lines due to his association with Stanley Levison.
1963: FBI Wiretapping
In the fall of 1963, the FBI, under written directive from Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, began tapping King's telephone line due to concerns about communist influence.
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.
October 14, 1964: Nobel Peace Prize
On October 14, 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial inequality.
November 4, 1964: Washington Post Article on Soviet Union Invitation
On November 4, 1964, a Washington Post article claimed King was invited to the Soviet Union, leading the CIA to investigate possible links between King and Communism.
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".
1964: Recording from the Willard Hotel
In 1964, a recording from the Willard Hotel had a recently added summary of a transcript. King's voice wasn't identified in the recording.
1964: Passage of the Civil Rights Act
In 1964, the March on Washington and King's "I Have a Dream" speech facilitated the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
1964: King likely to endorse Kennedy
King adds that he likely would have made an exception to his non-endorsement policy for a second Kennedy term, saying "Had President Kennedy lived, I would probably have endorsed him in 1964."
1964: King's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance
When receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, King hailed the "successful precedent" of using nonviolence.
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: Awarded American Liberties Medallion
In 1965, King was awarded the American Liberties Medallion by the American Jewish Committee for his exceptional advancement of the principles of human liberty.
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".
1965: King Denies Communist Connections
In a 1965 Playboy interview, King denied having connections to communism, stating that "there are as many Communists in this freedom movement as there are Eskimos in Florida."
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: 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.
1966: Awarded Margaret Sanger Award
In 1966, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America awarded King the Margaret Sanger Award for his courageous resistance to bigotry and his lifelong dedication to social justice and human dignity. Also in 1966, King was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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: SCLC Listed as Hate Group
In 1967, Hoover listed the SCLC as a black nationalist hate group and instructed the use of counterintelligence techniques to disrupt or discredit the group.
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: King Receives Honorary Degree from Newcastle University
In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. made his final visit to the UK to receive an honorary degree from Newcastle University.
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.
April 4, 1968: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, marking the end of his leadership in the civil rights movement which he had led since 1955.
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.
1968: FBI Campaign End Date
In 1968, the FBI's intensive campaign to 'neutralize' Martin Luther King Jr. as an effective civil rights leader ended, coinciding with his death.
1968: Fair Housing Act of 1968
In 1968, the Fair Housing Act was passed, representing a further legislative achievement for the civil rights movement.
1968: Civil Rights Act of 1968 Enacted
In 1968, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. helped to spur the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
1968: Memphis Police Surveillance
In the spring of 1968, the Memphis Police Department spied on King during his support for striking sanitation workers. Agents watched King at the time he was shot.
1968: Congress Passes the Civil Rights Act of 1968
Just days after King's assassination, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII of the Act, commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibited discrimination in housing.
March 10, 1969: James Earl Ray Confesses to King's Murder
On March 10, 1969, James Earl Ray confessed to the murder of Martin Luther King Jr., although he recanted this confession three days later and pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
December 30, 1969: Martin Luther King Fund and Foundation set up in UK
On December 30, 1969, The Martin Luther King Fund and Foundation in the UK was established as a charity after King's assassination, following Coretta King's visit to the UK that same year.
1970: Formation of International Personnel (IP)
In 1970, International Personnel (IP), an employment agency, was formed from the Martin Luther King Foundation's base in Balham to find employment for professionally qualified black people.
1971: Establishment of annual holidays
Beginning in 1971, cities and states established annual holidays to honor King.
1971: Best Spoken Word Recording Grammy Award
In 1971, Martin Luther King Jr. posthumously won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Recording for "Why I Oppose The War In Vietnam".
1971: Establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
In 1971, cities and states began establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday.
1975: Church Committee Investigation
In 1975, the Church Committee found that Martin Luther King Jr. was the target of an intensive FBI campaign to 'neutralize' him as a civil rights leader from December 1963 until his death in 1968.
1976: FBI Acknowledges Lack of Evidence
By 1976, the FBI acknowledged that it had not obtained any evidence that King or the SCLC were involved with any communist organizations, despite extensive surveillance.
1977: Order to Seal FBI Surveillance Tapes
In 1977, Judge John Lewis Smith Jr. ordered the recorded audiotapes and written transcripts resulting from the FBI's electronic surveillance of King between 1963 and 1968 to be sealed until 2027.
1977: Posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 1977, Martin Luther King Jr. was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his contributions to civil rights.
1977: King's Remains Transferred
In 1977, Martin Luther King Jr.'s remains were transferred to a tomb on the site of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.
November 2, 1983: Federal Holiday Created
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King, known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
January 20, 1986: First Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On January 20, 1986, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed for the first time as a federal holiday.
1986: Federal Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
In 1986, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first observed as a federal holiday in the United States, honoring his legacy nationally.
1986: Garrow's Book on Extramarital Affairs
In his 1986 book, David Garrow wrote about a number of extramarital affairs, including one woman King saw almost daily.
1989: Abernathy's Autobiography
In his 1989 autobiography, Ralph Abernathy stated that King had a "weakness for women", and that he had a difficult time with the temptation of sex outside of marriage.
October 1991: Academic Inquiry on Dissertation
In October 1991, an academic inquiry concluded that portions of King's doctoral dissertation had been plagiarized, but the committee did not recommend revoking his degree.
1992: Arizona recognizes the holiday
In 1992, Arizona recognized Martin Luther King Jr. day.
November 18, 1996: Removal of Foundation from Charity Commission List
On November 18, 1996, The Martin Luther King Fund and Foundation was removed from the Charity Commission list as it had ceased to exist.
1997: Dexter Scott King Meets with James Earl Ray
In 1997, Dexter Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s son, met with James Earl Ray and publicly supported Ray's efforts to obtain a new trial regarding the assassination.
1998: James Earl Ray Dies
In 1998, James Earl Ray, the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., died at the age of 70, after spending years attempting to withdraw his guilty plea.
1999: New Hampshire recognizes the holiday
In 1999, New Hampshire recognized Martin Luther King Jr. day.
1999: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Ruling
In 1999, a wrongful death lawsuit ruling named unspecified "government agencies" among the co-conspirators in King's assassination, though this remains a conspiracy theory.
January 17, 2000: MLK Day Observed in All U.S. States
On January 17, 2000, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed in all fifty U.S. states for the first time.
2000: Person of the Century Poll
In 2000, Martin Luther King Jr. was voted sixth in an online "Person of the Century" poll by Time Magazine.
2000: U.S. Department of Justice Investigation
In 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice completed its investigation into Loyd Jowers' claims of conspiracy in King's assassination, finding no evidence to support them and recommending no further investigation without new, reliable evidence.
2002: Ronald Denton Wilson's Claim
In 2002, The New York Times reported that Ronald Denton Wilson, a church minister, claimed his father, Henry Clay Wilson, assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. Wilson stated his father believed King was connected with communism, but provided no evidence.
2003: Posthumous Congressional Gold Medal
In 2003, Martin Luther King Jr. was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, further honoring his legacy.
2003: Pepper's book publication
In 2003, Pepper published a book about the investigation and trial, as well as his representation of James Earl Ray in his bid for a trial.
2004: Jesse Jackson's statement
In 2004, Jesse Jackson made a statement about King's assassination.
2004: Congressional Gold Medal
In 2004, Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
2006: Coretta Scott King's Death and King Center
In 2006, Coretta Scott King passed away. The same year, she established the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
2007: Death of Yolanda King
In 2007, Yolanda King, the eldest child of Martin Luther King Jr., passed away.
2008: Jerry Ray's Interview on James Earl Ray
In 2008, James Earl Ray's younger brother, Jerry Ray, gave an interview to CNN where he described James as bold and capable of armed robbery.
2010: Martin Luther King III becomes president of the King Center
In 2010, Martin Luther King III became president of the King Center.
2011: Dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
In 2011, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., commemorating his life and work.
2012: Bernice King becomes CEO of the King Center
In 2012, Bernice King became the CEO of the King Center.
2014: Release of FBI Letter
Upon the release of the full FBI letter in 2014, Yale history professor Beverly Gage noted that the FBI's intent might have been to push King out of the SCLC, not induce suicide.
April 20, 2016: $5, $10, and $20 Bill Redesign Announcement
On April 20, 2016, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced the redesign of the $5, $10, and $20 bills, with the $5 bill featuring images from King's "I Have a Dream" speech on the reverse.
September 9, 2016: King canonized by Archbishop Timothy Paul
On September 9, 2016, Martin Luther King Jr. was canonized by Archbishop Timothy Paul of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church, with his feast day set as April 4.
2017: CIA Files Declassified
In 2017, CIA files were declassified, revealing the agency's investigation into possible links between King and Communism after a 1964 Washington Post article.
2017: Statue and Bar Renaming at Newcastle University
In 2017, Newcastle University unveiled a bronze statue of Martin Luther King Jr. to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his honorary doctorate ceremony. The Students Union also voted to rename their bar "Luther's".
May 2019: Emergence of FBI File Allegations
In May 2019, an FBI file emerged with a handwritten note alleging that King "looked on, laughed and offered advice" as one of his friends raped a woman, allegations dismissed as highly unreliable by historians.
2020: $5, $10, and $20 Bill Redesign
In 2020, the $5, $10, and $20 bills were set to undergo redesign, with the $5 bill featuring images from King's "I Have a Dream" speech on the reverse.
2023: Equivalent Value of $2 Minimum Wage in 1963
In 2023, the equivalent value of the $2 minimum wage demanded during the March on Washington would be $20.
2023: Dollar amount equivalence in 2023
Reference to $178 fine in 1962 being equivalent to $1,800 in 2023.
January 23, 2025: Declassification of Records Concerning Assassination
On January 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order declassifying the records concerning the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
2027: Scheduled Declassification of Tapes
In 2027, the recorded audiotapes and written transcripts resulting from the FBI's electronic surveillance of King between 1963 and 1968 are scheduled to be declassified.
