Martin Luther King III facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Luther King III
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King in 2023
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| 4th President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference | |
| In office 1997–2004 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Lowery |
| Succeeded by | Fred Shuttlesworth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 23, 1957 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Arndrea Waters
(m. 2006) |
| Children | Yolanda Renee King |
| Parents | Martin Luther King Jr. Coretta Scott King |
| Relatives | Yolanda King (sister) Dexter King (brother) Bernice King (sister) Alveda King (cousin) Edythe Scott Bagley (maternal aunt) Christine King Farris (paternal aunt) Martin Luther King Sr. (grandfather) |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) |
Martin Luther King III was born on October 23, 1957. He is an American human rights activist and leader. He is the oldest son of famous civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. From 1997 to 2004, he was the fourth president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This was a civil rights group his father helped start. As of 2024, he also teaches at the University of Virginia.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Martin Luther King III was born in Montgomery, Alabama. His parents were Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. His mother worried about naming him after his famous father. She thought it might be a heavy burden for him. But his father really wanted to name his son Martin Luther III.
King III has three siblings: Yolanda Denise King, Dexter Scott King, and Rev. Bernice Albertine King. They grew up in Vine City, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was eight, a boy in his class made mean racial comments. King III complimented the boy's drawing, and the teasing stopped.
King III was ten years old when his father was assassinated. Before his father's death, Harry Belafonte set up a special fund for King III and his siblings. After his father died, King III moved to The Galloway School. He later attended Morehouse College, just like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He earned a degree in political science in 1979.
Adult Life and Activism
Martin Luther King III has continued his family's work for justice. On June 26, 1985, he was arrested with his mother and sister Bernice. This happened during a protest against apartheid in South Africa.
Public Service and Advocacy
In 1986, King III decided to get involved in politics. He ran for the Fulton County Commission. He won and served from 1987 to 1993. He was the first of his father's children to hold a political office.
King III has spoken out against the death penalty. In 1989, he said, "If we believed in an eye for an eye... most of us would be without eyes." In 1993, he helped create the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. This company manages his father's image and writings.
In 2009, King III and his wife visited India. They followed in the footsteps of his parents, who had visited 50 years earlier. He learned about Mahatma Gandhi's life and spoke to students. He also talked about the war in Iraq and the Mumbai attacks.
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In recent years, King III has asked for mercy for people on death row. In 2019, he urged Texas to spare Rodney Reed. In 2020, he asked Alabama to stop the execution of Nathaniel Woods.
Working with President Barack Obama
Martin Luther King III spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. This was on August 28, 2008, the 45th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech. It was also when Barack Obama became the first African American to be nominated for president by a major party. King III said his father would be "proud of Barack Obama." He also said that his father's dream would not be fully achieved just by Obama winning. He stressed that everyone needed to work to fix problems like healthcare and education.
On January 19, 2009, the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday, King III joined Obama. They helped paint a shelter for homeless teens. This was part of a national day of community service.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference Leadership
In 1997, King III was chosen to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This is the civil rights group his father founded. He was the fourth president of the SCLC. During his time, the group worked to fight police brutality. They also started new local chapters.
Under King III's leadership, the SCLC held meetings about police brutality. They also organized a rally for the 37th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech. They also successfully campaigned to change the Georgia state flag. The old flag had a large Confederate cross.
In June 2001, the SCLC temporarily suspended King III. They were concerned that the organization was not active enough. He was back in his role a week later after promising to be more involved. After this, King III created a plan for the SCLC. He wanted to focus on issues like racial profiling and prisoners' rights.
Drum Major Institute
King III is the Chairman of the Drum Major Institute. This group was started in 1999. It aims to promote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision. This vision is a world free from racism, poverty, and violence. King III said the institute works to "rid the world of the triple evils that my father and my mother (Coretta Scott King) talked about: poverty, racism and violence."
The King Center
In 2006, King III started an organization called Realizing The Dream. On April 4, 2008, the 40th anniversary of his father's death, King III led a march in Memphis, Tennessee. He visited the Lorraine Motel, where his father was shot. He placed a wreath there and asked people to continue his father's fight against poverty.
Working with Siblings and The King Center
On April 6, 2010, Martin Luther King III, his brother Dexter, and sister Bernice made a joint statement. They announced that Martin Luther King III would be the president and CEO of The King Center again. Dexter King said, "It's the right time, and Martin is in the right place." Bernice King added, "I am proud that my brothers and I are speaking with one voice."
As president of The King Center, King III has done important work. He started the "King Center Imaging Project." This project is digitizing thousands of historical documents. These include his father's speeches, sermons, and writings. They are being made available online for everyone. He also launched a project to save and digitize over 3,500 hours of audio and video of his father.
On August 28, 2010, King III joined other civil rights leaders. They took part in the 'Reclaim the Dream' march. This march marked 47 years since the historic Great March on Washington.
On April 4, 2011, King III helped lead protests across the country. These protests were against efforts to weaken the rights of public workers. He led a large march in Atlanta. He urged people to "defend the collective bargaining rights of teachers, bus drivers, police, firefighters."
In August 2013, King III visited Philadelphia. He announced the city was joining a national campaign. This campaign focused on poverty, jobs, and education. He also traveled to Washington to celebrate 50 years since the March on Washington.
Ferguson, Missouri
In August 2014, King III spoke about the shooting of Michael Brown. He visited Ferguson, Missouri, and attended a rally with Michael Brown's parents. He later said his father would be "greatly disappointed" by the violence that followed the grand jury's decision. King III also attended Brown's funeral.
Other Activities
King III was a co-founder of Bounce TV. This is a digital broadcasting network focused on Black audiences. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Let America Vote. This group works to end voter suppression.
On August 28, 2017, King III marched with Al Sharpton in Washington D.C. This was for the Ministers March for Justice. Over 3,000 ministers protested the policies of President Donald Trump.
2021 New York City Mayoral Election
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 18, 2021, King III announced his support for New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang. He praised Yang's plan for a guaranteed minimum income. King III said this idea was similar to what his father had wanted.
Realizing the Dream Initiative
On January 15, 2024, which would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 95th birthday, the National Football League announced a five-year commitment to Realizing the Dream. This is a partnership between the Martin Luther King III Foundation and a charity called Legacy+. The NFL said all its teams would join. The goal is for youth, teachers, and communities to do 100 million hours of community service by King Jr.'s 100th birthday in 2029.
That night, Martin Luther King III and his family were at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. They stood at midfield for the pregame coin toss. King III spoke about how football brings people together. He said his father wanted to end "poverty, racism and violence."
A few weeks later, on February 5, the Cincinnati Reds baseball team also joined the Realizing the Dream initiative. King III appeared at the Great American Ball Park for this event.
King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, wrote a book with Craig and Marc Kielburger. It is called What Is My Legacy?: Realizing a New Dream of Connection, Love and Fulfillment. The book includes contributions from important people like the Dalai Lama and Julia Roberts. It is set to be released on January 14, 2025.
Family Life
In May 2006, Martin Luther King III married his longtime partner, Arndrea Waters. On May 25, 2008, they had a daughter named Yolanda Renee King. She is the first and only grandchild of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She was named after her aunt, Yolanda King, who had passed away the year before. At age 9, Yolanda Renee King spoke at the March for Our Lives protest in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2018.
Honors and Awards
On February 5, 2006, King III helped with the ceremonial coin toss at Super Bowl XL. He was joined by the nieces and nephews of Rosa Parks.
On March 29, 2008, King III threw out the first pitch at the Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game.
On September 19, 2010, King III received the Ramakrishna Bajaj Memorial Global Award. This award recognized his great work in promoting human rights. It was given to him in Mumbai, India.
On September 29, 2015, the Montreal Black Film Festival gave King III the Humanitarian Award.
