“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Speech at St Louis, 22nd March 1964
“I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land….So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.”
Speech in Memphis 3rd April 1968 (the day before his assassination)
MARTIN LUTHER KING (1929-1968)
AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15th 1929, in Atlanta Georgia, to Alberta Williams King and Martin Luther King Sr.
Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sr. served as pastors at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
In 1954, Reverend King Jr. began his pastoral career at Dexter Avenue Church in Montgomery, Alabama. His involvement in the civil rights movement was the result of Mrs. Rosa Parks’s refusal to give up her seat to a white person, which was part of the segregation law in 1950’s Alabama. When the Montgomery Improvement Association was formed in December 1955, King was elected president of the association. The United States Supreme Court decision declared Alabama’s law of segregation on buses illegal. This was a victory from which King emerged as a national hero he inspired people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to join in peaceful protest against segregation. He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Black people in America. Often he was arrested for demonstrating against racist segregation laws.
Universities awarded him honorary degrees, and religious and civic organizations presented him medals and citations. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Although he was not the first Black person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, at thirty-five years old, he was the youngest man to receive the award.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee, on April 4th 1968. He left a widow, Coretta Scott King, and four young children.
“Sleep, Sleep tonight, and may all your dreams be realised
If the thunder-cloud passes rain, so let it rain, let it rain, rain down on him.”
Bono’s tribute to King, titled MLK on the U2 album, The Unforgettable Fire.
“King where are your people now chained and pacified,
You tried in vain to show them how, and for that you died.
You had a dream of a promised land people of all nations walking hand in hand, but their not ready to accept that strange situation yet.”
(1st verse)
- The Reggae group UB40 wrote this tribute to King simply titled “King.”