Martin Luther King Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Luther King
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King in 1979
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Michael King
December 19, 1899 Stockbridge, Georgia, U.S.
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| Died | November 11, 1984 (aged 84) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Resting place | South-View Cemetery |
| Education | Dillard University Morehouse College |
| Occupation | Religious minister |
| Known for | Father of Martin Luther King Jr. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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Martin Luther King Sr., born Michael King, was an important African-American pastor and leader. He lived from December 19, 1899, to November 11, 1984. He was a key figure in the early Civil Rights Movement. He was also the father of the famous civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr..
Contents
Early Life and Calling
Martin Luther King Sr. was born Michael King in Stockbridge, Georgia. His parents were Delia and James Albert King. He became a member of the Baptist Church. He decided to become a preacher because he was inspired by ministers who fought for racial equality.
He lived with Reverend A.D. Williams, who was the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. King Sr. began dating Williams' daughter, Alberta. Her family encouraged him to finish his education and become a preacher. He finished high school and started preaching in black churches in Atlanta.
Family and Name Change
In 1926, King Sr. began studying for his ministry degree at the Morehouse School of Religion. On Thanksgiving Day in 1926, he married Alberta at the Ebenezer Church. They had three children: Willie Christine King (born 1927), Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr., 1929–1968), and Alfred Daniel Williams King (1930–1969).
King Sr. became the leader of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in March 1931. This was after Reverend Williams passed away. The church faced money problems during the Great Depression. But King Sr. worked hard to get more members and raise money. By 1934, the church was doing well again.
That same year, he changed his name from Michael King to Martin Luther King. He also changed his eldest son's name. This change happened after he visited Germany for a Baptist meeting. He was inspired by Martin Luther, a leader of the Protestant Reformation. He also saw the rise of Nazism and felt a stronger need to protest injustice.
A Leader in the Community
King Sr. was the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church for 40 years. He had a lot of influence in the black community. He also earned some respect from the white community. He even had a religious radio show in Atlanta on WAEC.
He became a local leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He served on the executive committee of the NAACP chapter in Atlanta. He also held a position in the Civic and Political League. He strongly encouraged his son, Martin Luther King Jr., to join the movement.
Influence on Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. often said his father greatly influenced his decision to become a minister. He wrote that his father set a "noble example" that he wanted to follow.
King Jr. also shared stories about his father's strong stand against unfair treatment. Once, his father left a shoe shop because they were asked to change seats due to their race. King Jr. remembered his father saying, "I don't care how long I have to live with this system, I will never accept it."
Another time, a police officer stopped their car and called King Sr. "boy." King Sr. pointed to his son and said, "This is a boy, I'm a man; until you call me one, I will not listen to you." These moments taught King Jr. about standing up for what is right.
In 1948, King Jr. became an associate pastor at Ebenezer. King Sr. wrote a letter of recommendation for his son to attend Crozer Theological Seminary. Father and son later served together as joint pastors at the church.
Fighting for Civil Rights
King Sr. was a major figure in the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia. He led the NAACP in Atlanta. He fought for equal pay for black teachers in Atlanta. He also helped end Jim Crow laws in the state. These laws enforced racial segregation. King Sr. had refused to ride Atlanta's bus system since the 1920s because of unfair treatment towards black passengers. He believed that black ministers needed to be educated and politically active.
In October 1960, King Jr. was arrested during a peaceful sit-in in Atlanta. Robert F. Kennedy, who was helping his brother John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, called the judge. This helped King Jr. get released. King Sr. had not supported John F. Kennedy before because he was Catholic. But after this help, he changed his support to Kennedy. King Sr. had been a Republican for life and had supported Richard Nixon before this.
King Jr. soon became a very popular civil rights activist. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi of India. He led nonviolent protests to gain more rights for African Americans.
Later Years and Family Losses
Sadly, King Jr. was shot and killed in 1968. King Sr.'s youngest son, Alfred Daniel Williams King, died in an accidental drowning in 1969.
In 1969, King Sr. was one of the trustees at Morehouse College who were held by students. The students wanted changes in the school. One of these students was Samuel L. Jackson, who later became a famous actor.
King Sr. also played an important role in Jimmy Carter becoming the Democratic candidate for president in the 1976 election. Some Democrats were worried about Carter. But King Sr. spoke about Carter's work to end segregation in Georgia. He also mentioned Carter's help in getting rid of laws that stopped African Americans from voting. With King Sr.'s support, Carter gained many black and white voters and won the nomination. King Sr. gave the opening prayer at the Democratic National Conventions in 1976 and 1980.
Murder of Wife
King Sr.'s wife and King Jr.'s mother, Alberta Williams King, was tragically murdered. This happened on June 30, 1974, during Sunday services at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. A man named Marcus Wayne Chenault shot her while she was playing "The Lord's Prayer" on the organ. Chenault later said he wanted to target Martin Luther King Sr., but he was not there. He then targeted Alberta King.
Final Years
In 1977, King Sr. and his son's widow, Coretta Scott King, were present when President Carter gave King Jr. a Presidential Medal of Freedom. This award was given after his death. In 1980, King Sr. published his autobiography.
Martin Luther King Sr. passed away from a heart attack in Atlanta on November 11, 1984. He was 84 years old. He was buried next to his wife Alberta at the South-View Cemetery in Atlanta.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Luther King Sr. para niños
- Martin Luther King III, one of King's grandsons
