The Life of Martin Luther King jr. By: Sadie Morales 5th Grade Our Lady of Guadalupe Parents and Family Before we start talking about what Martin Luther King jr. actually did, we are going to talk about his family. Why? Because this also had a vital role on helping Martin Luther King become who he was. His parents names where Martin Luther King sr., who was his father and Alberta Williams King, who was his mother. His father was a preacher, just like his son would be. His mother was a teacher. They got married in 1926. Shortly after, Martin sister was born in 1927. Then Martin Luther King, in 1929. A year later, his brother was born in 1930. His parents had a big influence on who he was. His parents taught him about injustices and how to respond to them. His mother taught him about the history of slavery and told “Even though some people make you feel bad or angry, you should not show it. You are as good as anyone else”. As Martin Luther King grew, he began to notice and understand this. In the top left, Martin Luther King jr.’s Parents, Martin Luther King sr., and Alberta Williams King. In the top right, Martin Luther King as a kid, and as a adult speaking. In the bottom left , Martin and his siblings, Christine King Farris and A.D. King. Childhood Martin Luther King had a happy childhood. He and his siblings learned to play the piano from their mother, and were taught spirituality by their father. Martin Luther King went to David T. Howard elementary at the age of six. This was one of the first times he experienced racial discimination. “White” friends were to go to a different school from his. He did enjoy sports as a child, but baseball grew to be his favorite. He skipped the ninth and tenth grade and entered Morehouse college at age 15. After Morehouse he went to study at the racially integrated Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, in Pennsylvania. He was said to be a very good student there. In 1951, he graduated with a very high reputation, being class valedictorian, and also receiving the Pearl Plafker award for a scholarship. A couple years later, in 1953, Martin got married to Coretta Scott King. A year later, he became a Minister at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Martin Luther King’s childhood home, on the far left. Martin graduated from Morehouse, in the top right corner. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King getting Married, in the bottom right. Civil Rights Work Martin Luther King’s first well known act to fight against discrimination was helping organize the bus boycott in 1955. The bus boycott was when people in Montgomery, Alabama boycotted the buses in order to fight against segregation on buses. It lasted over a year. After organizing the bus boycott in 1955, Martin helped help found Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC in 1957. SCLC was against discrimination and segregation. SCLC was said to have played a major part in the civil right movement. A couple years later, in 1963, Martin was still continuing his fight against equality. That year, on August, 28, in Washington D.C., Martin Luther King gave his famous “I have a dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. An interesting fact about the speech is that the words “I have a Dream” was never in the written speech. Later, in 1968, Martin also did some peaceful protests at a Memphis Sanitation worker strike. Top left, The bus boycott in 1955. Top right, Martin Luther King giving his “I have a dream” speech. Bottom Left, a photo from SCLC of what looks like a protest, Passing Martin Luther King was assassinated on April fourth, 1968. He was shot by James Earl Ray, while Martin Luther King was standing on a balcony at Lorraine Motel. When James Earl Ray shot him, Martin was rushed to a hospital, an hour later he died. He was only 39 years old. A day before, Martin Luther King had given his last speech, “I’ve Been on a Mountaintop” at Bishop Charles Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King’s funeral, took place on April ninth, 1968, in his hometown Atlanta Georgia. Martin Luther King definitely left a footprint on America. Top left, Martin Luther King’s family at his funeral looking at his casket. Bottom left, Martin Luther King giving his last speech, “I’ve been on a mountain top” the day before his death. Top right, The balcony where Martin Luther King was assassinated; The motel has put a wreath to pay their respects. Legacy Martin Luther King taught us many things, one of the most important was to not treat people differently by the color of their skin or their national origin. That is what discrimination is. This is not a kind thing to do, and that is why Martin Luther King tried to stop discrimination. I could try to end it to, for example, I could try to end it by simply not discriminating. You should focus on looking at the inside, not the outside. One way I think about the world differently because of my study of Martin Luther King was because I got a better understanding of how love can always conquer hate- from Martin Luther King’s teaching. Facts I’ve decided to share with you some interesting facts that I did not get to share in the presentation about Martin Luther King. -He was arrested 29 times, for acts of civil disobedience and other things. For example, when he was driving 30 miles-per-hour on a 25 miles-per-hour zone. -Martin Luther King is the only other person along with George Washington whose birthday was declared a national holiday. This proves the he is very important. -He almost got assassinated in 1958 by Izola Ware Curry while he was in Blumstein's department store signing copies for his new book, “Stride Toward Freedom”. Martin Luther King was stabbed with a six inch letter opener in the chest. He needed emergency surgerie to help save his life. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Martin Luther King jr. I would like to thank... Businessinsider.com, mlk.wabe.org, washingtonpost.com, alamy.com, nps.gov, usatoday.com, pinterest.com, blackpas.org, wtop.org, nationalsclc.org, wreg.com, npr.org, and garrymarshalthetre.org for providing the images for this presentation. Thank you..