Coretta Scott King facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coretta Scott King
King in 1964
Born	Coretta Scott (1927-04-27)April 27, 1927 Heiberger, Alabama, U.S.
Died	January 30, 2006(2006-01-30) (aged 78) Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico
Resting place	King Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Education	Antioch College (BA) New England Conservatory of Music (BM)
Occupation	Activist author
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Martin Luther King Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1953; died 1968)​
Children	Yolanda Martin Dexter Bernice
Relatives	Yolanda Renee King (granddaughter) Alveda King (niece)
Awards	Gandhi Peace Prize

Coretta Scott King (born Coretta Scott; April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006) was an American author and activist. She was a very important civil rights leader. She was also the wife of Martin Luther King Jr.. Coretta was a singer and often used music in her work for civil rights.

Her work continued long after her husband passed away. She left a lasting impact that still inspires people today.

Coretta Scott King's Early Life and Education

Coretta Scott was born on April 27, 1927. Her hometown was Heiberger, Alabama. She was the third of four children. Her parents were Obadiah and Bernice Scott. Coretta's mother was known for her musical talent.

Coretta's father, Obie, was one of the first Black people in their town to own a car. He also owned a lumber mill. White neighbors burned it down after he refused to sell it. The Scott family had owned a farm since the American Civil War.

At age 10, Coretta worked to help her family earn money. During the Great Depression, the Scott children picked cotton. They shared a bedroom with their parents. Coretta's brother said she always "tried to excel in everything."

Her parents wanted all their children to go to college. Coretta remembered her mother saying, "My children are going to college."

School Days and Musical Talents

The Scott children went to a one-room elementary school. It was about 5 miles from their home. Later, they rode a bus to Lincoln Normal School.

Coretta was a smart and talented student. She loved music very much. She learned to play the piano and sang in the church choir. Her musical skills helped her get a scholarship. She went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. There, she studied music and education.

At Antioch, Coretta joined the civil rights movement. She was part of the college's Race Relations Committee. She took part in protests against segregation. She also became interested in pacifism. This is the belief that problems should be solved peacefully.

After college, Coretta moved to Boston, Massachusetts. She studied singing at the New England Conservatory of Music. She hoped to become a concert singer. In Boston, she met Martin Luther King Jr.. He was studying to become a minister.

Meeting and Marrying Martin Luther King Jr.

Coretta Scott King and her husband Martin Luther King in 1964.

Coretta and Martin met in 1952. Just two weeks later, Martin wrote to his mother. He told her he had met his future wife. On Valentine's Day in 1953, they announced their wedding plans. They were married on June 18, 1953.

Leading the Civil Rights Movement

King with her husband and daughter Yolanda in 1956

After they married, Coretta and Martin moved to Montgomery, Alabama. Martin became the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. In Montgomery, they became very involved in the civil rights movement.

In 1955, Rosa Parks, a Black woman, was arrested. She refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. This brave act started the Montgomery Bus Boycott. For a year, Black residents refused to ride the city's buses. Martin Luther King Jr. became the leader of this boycott. Coretta played a very important role in supporting him.

Coretta was more than just Martin's wife. She was his partner in the fight for civil rights. She helped him organize meetings and write speeches. She also helped raise money for the movement. She faced threats because of her involvement.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Coretta and Martin worked hard. They wanted to end segregation and unfair treatment. They marched, sat in, and used other peaceful protests. They were arrested many times. But they never stopped fighting for justice.

Coretta Scott King's Activism for Peace

King attending the 1976 Democratic National Convention

Coretta Scott King was a champion for civil rights. She was also a strong supporter of peace. She believed that violence was never the answer. She thought problems should be solved through talking and understanding.

During the Vietnam War, Coretta spoke out against it. She called for peace. She believed the war was wrong. She also felt it took money away from important programs at home.

After Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, Coretta continued his work. She traveled the world. She spoke out against unfair treatment and violence. She met with world leaders. She urged them to find peaceful ways to solve problems.

Continuing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy

After her husband's death, Coretta dedicated her life to his memory. She wanted to continue his work. She founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia. This place is known as The King Center. It is a museum, archive, and education center. It teaches about nonviolence and social justice.

Coretta also worked to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday. After many years of campaigning, the holiday became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is now celebrated every year. It is on the third Monday of January.

Later Life and Passing Away

Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King sarcophagus within the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

In her later years, Coretta Scott King kept speaking out. She spoke for peace and justice. She spoke against racism, poverty, and war.

In August 2005, King had a stroke. It affected her right side and her speech. Five months later, she passed away. She died from respiratory failure due to complications from ovarian cancer. About 10,000 people attended her funeral. This included U.S. presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter.

She was first buried temporarily at the King Center. Later, she was laid to rest next to her husband. She was honored in many ways. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. She was the first African American to lie in state at the Georgia State Capitol.

Timeline of Coretta Scott King's Life

• 1927: Born on April 27 in Heiberger, Alabama.
• 1945: Graduates as the top student from Lincoln High School.
• 1949: Earns a degree in music and education from Antioch College.
• 1951: Starts studying at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
• 1952: Meets Martin Luther King Jr. in Boston.
• 1953: Marries Martin Luther King Jr. on June 18.
• 1954: The Kings move to Montgomery, Alabama. Martin becomes a pastor.
• 1955: The Montgomery Bus Boycott begins after Rosa Parks' arrest.
• 1957: Their first child, Yolanda Denise King, is born.
• 1959: Their second child, Martin Luther King III, is born.
• 1961: Their third child, Dexter Scott King, is born.
• 1963: Their fourth child, Bernice Albertine King, is born.
• 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated on April 4.
• 1969: Coretta Scott King creates The King Center in Atlanta.
• 1983: Martin Luther King Jr. Day becomes a U.S. federal holiday.
• 1994: Receives the Gandhi Peace Prize.
• 2004: Is inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
• 2006: Dies on January 30 in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, at age 78.

Interesting Facts About Coretta Scott King

• Coretta King was often called the "First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement."
• As a child, Coretta described herself as a tomboy. She enjoyed climbing trees and even wrestling boys.
• When Coretta first met Martin Luther King Jr., she was surprised by his height.
• In January 1969, King received the Universal Love Award. She was the first person not from Italy to get this award.
• She wrote her life story, My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1969.

Famous Quotes by Coretta Scott King

• "There is a spirit and a need and a man at the beginning of every great human advance. Every one of these must be right for that particular moment of history, or nothing happens."
• "If you use weapons of war to bring about peace, you're going to have more war and destruction."
• "Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation."
• "If you don't use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem."

Coretta Scott King's Lasting Legacy

Coretta worked hard to keep her husband's memory alive. The King Center, which she started, helped honor his tomb.

Coretta is largely responsible for creating the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This holiday is now celebrated in all fifty states.

Portrayals in Film and Television

• Cicely Tyson played her in the 1978 TV show King.
• Angela Bassett played her in the 2013 TV movie Betty and Coretta.
• Carmen Ejogo played Coretta King in two films: the 2001 HBO movie Boycott and the 2014 movie Selma.

Honors and Tributes to Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King received many honors during and after her life. She got special degrees from many schools. These included Princeton University and Duke University.

In 1970, the American Library Association started an award named after her. The Coretta Scott King Award honors great African-American writers and illustrators of children's literature.

In 1983, she received the Four Freedoms Award for the Freedom of Worship. She also received the Key of Life award from the NAACP.

In 2004, Coretta Scott King was given the important Gandhi Peace Prize. This award came from the Government of India.

In 2006, the Jewish National Fund created the Coretta Scott King forest in Israel. This was to honor her memory of equality and peace.

In 2007, The Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) opened in Atlanta, Georgia. This public school helps young women learn about scholarship, non-violence, and social change.

Super Bowl XL in 2006 was dedicated to King and Rosa Parks. There was a moment of silence for them. Their children helped with the coin toss.

She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 2009. She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.

In January 2023, a sculpture called The Embrace was unveiled in Boston. It honors Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. It shows four arms intertwined, like a hug they shared.

Images for kids

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  Coretta Scott with her husband and Vice President-elect Hubert Humphrey on December 17, 1964

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  King comforting daughter Bernice at her husband's funeral, in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo by Moneta Sleet Jr.

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  Coretta Scott attends the signing of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983

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  Coretta at Lincoln Memorial. 30th anniversary March on Washington August 28, 1993

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  King poses next to a portrait of her husband in 2004

See also

In Spanish: Coretta Scott King para niños

• List of civil rights leaders
• List of peace activists