stone statue of leader of civil rights movement in washington dc

MLK Facts for Kids

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Martin Luther King, Jr was an outstanding human. He fought for civil rights and equality. Through his efforts, United States government officials put laws into place to protect citizens from oppression. King’s short life was amazing and marked by many accomplishments. 

He is a native of the Peach State. 

Martin Luther King was born in Atlanta, GA, on January 15, 1929. Georgia is known for producing exceptional peaches. Their texture, flavor, and nutrients surpass those of other regions. More famous people from Georgia are Kelly Rowland, Cam Newton, and Chloe Grace Moretz. 

Martin Luther King was a boy genius. 

He skipped two grades (ninth and twelfth). Subsequent to graduation, King attended Moorehouse College as a teenager. He was 15 years old! At this institution, he earned a bachelor’s in sociology. Afterward, King got a bachelor of divinity from Crozier Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Boston University. 

King was a young pastor. 

In North America, on average, pastors are over 40. Martin Luther King bucked the system. He became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church at age 24. His youth brought energy to the church. He, along with members, began to focus on social injustice. As a consequence, within two years, he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott that caused the desegregation of public transit.  

Martin Luther King pushed moral activism.  

Moral activism is when a person works to change laws based on their beliefs. These beliefs are based on spiritual teachings or basic human decency. King is a perfect example of a moral activist. He acted to form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957. The SCLC organized churches and held non-violent protests to promote civil rights reform. 

Government officials called him a communist.  

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began wiretapping Martin Luther King in the early ’60s. This government body alleged communists were part of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement was a major force in dismantling Jim Crow laws set up to oppress southern Blacks. Their efforts did not uncover any anti-democracy groups. 

He assisted in enacting two influential bills. 

They were the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the National Voting Rights Act of 1965. Both bills gave rights to disenfranchised American people. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The National Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlaws testing that suppressed votes among minorities.  

King’s assassination remains a mystery. 

On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennesse. He was on a balcony. Law enforcers never caught his assailant. Rumors of who killed him continue today. Around 300,000 people attended Martin Luther King’s funeral, including Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. 

King is the only Black person with a federal holiday. 

Martin Luther King, Jr, Day is observed every third Monday of January. Former President Reagan signed off on the bill in 1983. Three years later, all American states began observing this holiday. 

In conclusion, Martin Luther King, Jr, was an exceptional person. His desire for justice and equality helped all Americans. He set the platform people use today to thwart oppression and other acts of discrimination. 

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