Martin Luther King Jr.

Birth of Martin Luther King Jr.

Jan 15, 1929

Birth Place: Atlanta, Georgia
Parents: Father: Michael Luther King (Baptist minister)
Mother: Alberta King (school teacher)

College

Sep 1, 1951

Martin begins studying systematic theology as a graduate student at Boston University.

Married

Jun 18, 1953

Martin Luther King Jr. marries Coretta Scott at her parent’s home in Marion, Alabama. Coretta was the younger daughter of Obadiah and Bernice McMurray Scott.

Bombed

Jan 30, 1956

Martin's house was bombed. There were no injuries or deaths.

Arrested

Apr 12, 1963

Dr.King is arrested at a Sit-in demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama protesting against public eating facilities.

In Jail

Apr 16, 1963

In Martin's Birmingham cell Dr. King writes about his concerns on the pace of justice in civil rights for Black Americans in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".

I Have a Dream Speech

Aug 28, 1963

Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd of about 250,000 people at the Marched on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Death

Apr 4, 1968

While standing on the balcony at the Lorraine in Memphis, Tennessee Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed.
He was killed by James Earl Ray. He was 39 years old when he died.

Funeral

Apr 9, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. More than 300,000 people marched through Atlanta with his coffin. He is buried in South View Cemetery, Atlanta.

The Killer of Martin Luther King Jr

May 10, 1968

James Earl Ray, the convicted killer of Martin Luther King Jr. was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He later died in prison because of liver failure.

Martin Luther King Jr. day was Established

Nov 2, 1986

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States.