Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Everyone is familiar with Martin Luther King Jr’s inspirational “I have a dream” speech. But what events in his life influenced the words that moved and fueled a civil revolution. A hero to the entire nation was cut off so abruptly and violently. The story of the man who wanted more for our country and what freedom really meant.

January 15, 1929 born Michael Luther King Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin, after his father. Growing up as an African American in Georgia, Martin experienced and suffered discrimination throughout his boyhood. This discrimination against black people was cruel and demoralizing. Martin Luther King Jr. told once of an experience he had riding a bus with his schoolteacher from Macon to Atlanta,

"The driver started cursing us out and calling us black sons of bitches. I decided not to move at all, but my teacher pointed out that we must obey the law. So we got up and stood in the aisle the whole ninety miles to Atlanta. It was a night I'll never forget. I don't think I have ever been so deeply angry in my life."

He attended segregated public schools and graduated at the age fifteen. In 1948 he received a B.A. degree from Morehouse college where both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of Theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary he was elected president of a primarily white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. Martin later enrolled in Boston University completing his residence