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I travel to Washington, D.C. each April to attend the Disability Policy Seminar co-sponsored by The Arc of the United States, followed by visits with our legislators on Capitol Hill. The government buildings like the House, Senate, Capitol, and Supreme Court are impressive. So are the monuments, but especially the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. It was dedicated on Aug. 28, 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A place to reflect on his life with his potent messages inscribed on the monument walls, “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.”
On the occasion of his birthday and the holiday we observe, Jan. 15th, I’d like to share some facts about his life that you might not know or remember.
He was born on Jan. 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. He started school before reaching age six, but was asked to leave and wait until the next year! He excelled in school, skipping 9th and 12th grades.
Martin attended Morehouse College, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Sociology. He was ordained a minister that same year, becoming Reverend King, Assistant Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. He attended Crozer Theological Seminary receiving a Bachelor of Divinity, while simultaneously going to the University of Pennsylvania.
Rev. King moved to Boston in 1951 where he entered a doctoral program at Boston University and soon thereafter married Coretta Scott. Together, they had four children. In 1955, he received a Ph.D. in systematic theology form Boston University, and then moved to Atlanta to be the director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He also served as co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Dr. King became a central figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He strongly believed and exemplified Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at age 35, the youngest man and first black recipient. He was arrested thirty times for his civil rights actions.
Dr. King was in Memphis to help lead sanitation workers in a protest. On April 4, 1968, as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, he was shot and killed.
May he rest in Peace. May his Vision continue to inspire us! May his Message lead us!
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -Dr. King
Resource: Quotations of Matin Luther King Jr., Applewood Books, Bedford, MA