10 facts about Martin Luther King
Learn about the world-famous civil rights campaigner…
Meet the civil rights leader in our Martin Luther King facts and discover how he changed history for millions of African-American people during the Civil Rights Movement…
Martin Luther King facts
Full name: Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Born: 15 January 1929.
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Occupation: Minister and activist.
Died: 4 April 1968.
Best known for: Campaigning for the rights of African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
1) Martin Luther King Jr was born in the United States of America to African American parents. At birth he was named Michael King, but his father later changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr.
2) When Martin Luther King was growing up, life was hard for African Americans. The Southern United States operated under the ‘Jim Crow laws’ that kept black and white people separated in what was called ‘segregation’. Black people had different schools, toilets and even sections of the bus to white people. They were also denied the right to vote in elections.
3) Martin Luther King had his first experience of segregation at just six years old, when he was told he wasn’t allowed to play with his white friend anymore – his friend’s father wouldn’t allow it!
4) His first major role in the Civil Rights Movement came in 1955, after an African American lady – Rosa Parks – was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. This sparked outrage in the African American community and Martin helped to organise a boycott of the city’s buses. After 381 days of protest, a court finally ruled that such segregation laws should no longer be recognised.
Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Martin Luther King primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!
5) Martin was a great believer in peaceful protest, inspired by the Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi. His protests used no-violent tactics, even when the protesters themselves were met with violence from the police.
6) In 1963, Martin gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, at a famous rally named ‘March on Washington.’ Over 250,000 people gathered in the country’s capital to hear Martin and other activists speak about the importance of civil rights. It has become one of the most famous speeches in history and focuses on Martin’s dream of a society where black people and white people live together in harmony.
7) In 1964 – 99 years after the abolition of slavery – the Civil Rights Act was passed, outlawing racial segregation and discrimination in the USA.
8) In October 1964, Martin won the Nobel Peace Prize! He was told over the phone whilst he was in bed suffering from exhaustion – it had been a long, hard fight for civil rights!
9) Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in 1968 in Tennessee, where he had given a speech the day before. He was standing on the balcony his hotel when he was shot. James Earl Ray was convicted of his murder and spent the rest of his life in prison, despite claiming to be innocent. James died in 1998.
10) Martin Luther King Jr is remembered for his tireless work during the Civil Rights Movement and his dream that one day everyone would be treated as equals. A statue built in his memory now stands in Washington D.C. and each year, the third Monday in January is celebrated as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an American federal holiday.
Want to know more? Check out Nat Geo Kids’ Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela articles to learn about the vital work of these incredible activists.
What do you think of our Martin Luther King facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!
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cooooool
I love this story because it gives so much information about Martin Luther King, Jr.
i loved all the facts
dr.marther luther king helped the world alot because he stoped rasist pepole and now the world is verey nice now becasue of one man
He was a great man
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AMAZING
Martin Luther King Jr is a courageous man and a good outstanding person
cool!
This was interesting. Let’s stop racism ✊.
[…] 10 facts about Martin Luther King […]
wow this is god facts but me did't lik the recisn
I liked the fact that he stood up the people
this is cool
this a great person who changed the world
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WOW! Such a cool guy
Thanks for teaching me all this stuff.
my teacher was very touched by this story. i'm very glad we had someone helping to work out the world :)
cool
Cant wait to do my biography at school about Martain Luther King Jr. my teacher is going to be so proud of me!
I'm happy that there was a man who had a strong dream and made a difference in the world.
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