Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential figures in the civil rights movement in the United States. His commitment to nonviolent protest and his powerful speeches changed the world.
1. His original name wasn’t Martin
When he was born in 1929, his name was Michael King Jr. His father, Michael King Sr., was a Baptist preacher who visited Germany in 1934. There, he became inspired by Protestant reformer Martin Luther and changed both his own name and his son’s to Martin Luther King.
2. He became a pastor at the age of 19
King was an intellectual prodigy. He skipped several grades and enrolled at Morehouse College, a historically Black university in Atlanta, at the age of 15. By 19, he became a pastor and began studying theology.
3. He drew inspiration from Gandhi
King’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance was heavily influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. While in university, he studied Gandhi’s methods of civil disobedience and decided it was the best way to combat racial injustice in America.
4. The Montgomery Bus Boycott made him famous
In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. This sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted over a year. King became the movement’s leader, and his inspiring speeches earned him national recognition.
5. His house was bombed
During the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956, King’s house was bombed while his wife and daughter were inside. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Despite the attack, King urged his followers to remain peaceful and avoid retaliation.
6. He was arrested over 30 times
King was arrested more than 30 times for his activism. He was charged with civil disobedience for protesting against segregation and unjust laws.
7. His most famous speech was in 1963
On August 28, 1963, King delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington. In front of more than 250,000 people, he spoke of his dream for an America free of racial discrimination.
8. The FBI considered him a threat
J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI, saw King as a threat and launched a campaign to discredit him. The FBI tapped his phone and attempted to blackmail him with personal information, hoping to force him out of the civil rights movement.
9. He received the Nobel Peace Prize
In 1964, King became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize, at age 35. He donated the entire prize money of $54,000 to the civil rights movement.
10. He advocated for economic justice
In addition to racial equality, King also campaigned for economic justice. In 1968, he launched the Poor People’s Campaign to address poverty and inequality, regardless of race. He believed that social justice was incomplete without economic fairness.
11. He opposed the Vietnam War
King was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War, which he saw as a conflict where poor and minority Americans were disproportionately affected. In 1967, he gave a controversial speech called “Beyond Vietnam”, urging the U.S. to end the war and focus on domestic social issues.
12. His final speech was eerily prophetic
On April 3, 1968, just one day before his assassination, King gave his final speech in Memphis, Tennessee. Known as “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, it contained a haunting moment:
“I don’t know what will happen to me now… But it doesn’t matter with me now. I’ve been to the mountaintop… I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.”
13. He was assassinated on a hotel balcony
On April 4, 1968, King was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis by James Earl Ray, a convicted felon with racist views. He was shot in the neck and died shortly after in the hospital.
14. His death triggered massive riots
Following King’s assassination, riots broke out in more than 100 cities across the U.S. The anger over his death led to widespread destruction, fires, and hundreds of arrests. President Lyndon B. Johnson called for calm and national unity.
15. Martin Luther King Day wasn’t recognized until 1986
Although King was killed in 1968, it wasn’t until 1986 that his birthday became a national holiday. Even then, some states were reluctant to honor the day. It wasn’t until 2000 that all 50 states officially observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Martin Luther King Jr. was not only a visionary leader but also a symbol of hope, equality, and resilience. His nonviolent struggle against racial and economic injustice continues to inspire people around the world. His legacy lives on—not just in books and speeches, but in the ongoing fight for social justice.
