MLK Canvas Portrait in abstract colors
- Birth Name and Early Life: Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. King’s birth name was Michael King Jr. His father, Michael King Sr., a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, changed both his and his son’s names to Martin Luther King in honor of the Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther after a trip to Germany in 1934.
- Early Academic Achievements: A prodigious student, King skipped both the ninth and twelfth grades, enrolling at Morehouse College at the age of 15. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology by the age of 19.
- Doctorate in Systematic Theology: King earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955. His dissertation was titled “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.”
- Ordination and Pastoral Work: Following in his father’s footsteps, King was ordained as a Baptist minister before completing his undergraduate degree. He later became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, at the age of 25.
- Leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott: At 26, King was selected to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement sparked by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger. The boycott lasted 381 days and resulted in the desegregation of the Montgomery public bus system.
- Advocate of Nonviolent Protest: Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence, King became a staunch advocate for peaceful protest, believing it to be the most effective means to achieve civil rights goals.
- Multiple Arrests: Throughout his activism, King was arrested 29 times, often for acts of civil disobedience and on trumped-up charges, such as driving 30 mph in a 25 mph zone.
- Assassination Attempt in 1958: A decade before his assassination, King survived an attempt on his life when Izola Ware Curry stabbed him with a letter opener during a book signing in HarlemThe blade was perilously close to his aorta, and doctors informed him that a mere sneeze could have been fatal.
- Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: In 1964, at the age of 35, King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at that time, recognized for his efforts to combat racial inequality through nonviolent resistance.
- Influence of Mahalia Jackson: During his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was present on stage, urged King to “tell them about the dream,” prompting him to deviate from his prepared remarks and deliver the most memorable portion of his speech.
- Posthumous Recognition: After his assassination on April 4, 1968, efforts to honor King’s legacy culminated in the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday in 1983, making him the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor.
- Family’s Continued Activism: King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, was a prominent civil rights activist in her own right. After his death, she founded the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and was instrumental in the campaign to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Their children have also been active in various social justice causes.
- Memorial in Washington, D.C.: The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, unveiled in 2011, is the first memorial on the National Mall dedicated to an African American and the only one that does not honor a president. The centerpiece is a 30-foot statue of King emerging from a “Stone of Hope,” inspired by a line from his “I Have a Dream” speech.
- Advocacy for Economic Justice: In addition to civil rights, King was a strong advocate for economic justice. He launched the Poor People’s Campaign in 1967, aiming to address economic disparities and calling for a “revolution of values” in America.
- Influence on Global Human Rights Movements: King’s philosophy and strategies have inspired human rights movements worldwide, influencing leaders and activists in their struggles for justice and equality.
- King’s Connection to Star Trek: Dr. King was a fan of the television series “Star Trek.”