Lonnie C. King Jr. facts for kids

Lonnie C. King Jr. (born August 30, 1936 – died March 5, 2019) was an important American leader in the civil rights movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and gain equal rights for African Americans. Starting in 1960, Lonnie King helped create the Atlanta Student Movement. He also wrote a powerful statement called the Appeal for Human Rights. His efforts helped end segregation in Atlanta, Georgia. Segregation was when people of different races were kept separate. His work also helped teach America more about racism and the struggles of the civil rights movement.

Early Life and Education

Lonnie C. King Jr. was born on August 30, 1936, in Arlington, Georgia. He spent most of his childhood in southern Georgia with his grandparents. His mother worked in Atlanta as a maid. Lonnie attended David T. Howard High School in Atlanta. He was very active at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

He later went to Morehouse College. There, he met other young people who wanted to make a difference. These friends included Julian Bond and Roslyn Pope. Together with students from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), they wrote the Appeal for Human Rights. HBCUs are colleges that were first created to educate Black students.

The Appeal for Human Rights

The Appeal for Human Rights was a strong statement. It challenged the idea that Atlanta was a city that welcomed all races. The writers of the Appeal said that they could not accept the unfair conditions Black people faced in Atlanta. They believed these conditions went against democracy and Christian values. This powerful message got a lot of attention in the city. Soon after, their voices were heard in the streets.

Leading Sit-ins and Protests

In February 1960, students in Greensboro, North Carolina, started sit-ins at a lunch counter. This inspired Lonnie King and his friends. In March, they began their own sit-ins across Atlanta. After writing their Appeal, they formed the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights. This committee organized the Atlanta Student Movement.

On March 15, 1960, about 200 students marched across Atlanta. They started the first wave of sit-ins. Most of these students came from colleges like Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. These schools were part of The Atlanta University Center. The students followed the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. They believed in non-violent protest, meaning they would protest peacefully without using violence.

During these protests, it was common for people to refuse to pay bail after being arrested. However, Lonnie King and Herschelle Sullivan, a co-leader, paid their $100 bail. They did this so they could continue their important work. The marches and sit-ins went on through the end of 1960 and into 1961. Segregated businesses in downtown Atlanta lost about $20 million because of the protests and boycotts. On October 19, 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined the sit-ins in Atlanta. He was arrested and spent his first night in jail. He said, "I had to practice what I preached."

A Victory for Equality

Finally, on March 6, 1961, an agreement was reached. This agreement ended segregation in over 300 restaurants in Atlanta. Also, about 600 African American employees who had been fired were hired back. This was a big step towards equality in the city.

Lonnie King's Later Years

After these events, Lonnie King had to leave Morehouse College because he didn't have enough money. He joined the US Navy and served for three years. He then used his G.I. Bill to finish his degree at Morehouse. He later earned a master's degree in public education from the University of Baltimore.

Later in his life, Lonnie King became the president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP is an organization that works for the rights of African Americans. During his time as president, he supported the Atlanta School Board hiring its first African American superintendent, Alonzo Crim. However, in 1971, King and other leaders were removed from their positions. This happened because of disagreements about changes to school desegregation plans.

In 2014, Lonnie King was honored and inducted into the Atlanta Business-Atlanta Daily World Men of Influence Hall of Fame. He could not attend the event because his wife had passed away earlier that day. Lonnie C. King Jr. died on March 5, 2019, at the age of 82.