Observed January 18, 1999
Martin Luther King, Jr., was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and was one of 3 children born to a family of Baptist ministers. He was raised on the principle to treat all people with respect no matter what color, but as he grew up, he found that black people and white people were treated differently.
When Mr. King was ready for college, he decided to follow in his grandfather's and father's footsteps and became a minister and attended the Crozer Theological Semininary in Pennsylvania where he studied Mahatma Gandhi and the works of Henry David Thoreau. It was at college where he met the woman who would become his wife ~ Coretta Scott.
In 1954, Martin Luther King, Jr., received his Ph.D, became Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and accepted a pastorship of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
Dr. King's involvement with civil rights began with the arrest of Mrs. Rosa Parks who is well-known for her unwillingness to give up her bus seat to a white passenger which resulted in her arrest on December 1, 1955. Dr. King organized a protest and urged the African-American citizens to boycott the bus company by walking and driving instead of taking the bus. The boycott lasted 381 days until the United State Supreme Court would end it by declaring that Alabama's state and local laws requiring segregation on buses were illegal.
In January of 1957, Dr. King had become the leader of the civil rights movement and was named President of the newly-formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
The next several years would find Dr. King organizing speeches, marches, and different drives for the benefit of the African-American people, one which culmininated in his and others' arrests in January of 1963.
Upon his release from jail, there were more peaceful demonstrations, but police retaliated by using water hoses, tear gas, and dogs - all within view of television news cameras that would show the world the brutality that southern African-Americans had to endure. The news coverage helped Dr. King's cause as many Americans were outraged by the cruelty and hatred.
On August 28, 1963, King gave the infamous "I Have A Dream" address from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to about 250,000 people assembled before him. The speech was also broadcast on TV and published in newspapers. The immediate effect of the speech also shaped American history.
In 1964, Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize as someone who "had contributed the most to the furtherance of peace among men". Dr. King divided the prize money of $54,000.00 among various civil rights organizations.
Also in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law that said, "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination."
The next several years saw Dr. King leading marches and continuing his campaign for peace throughout America
In April of 1968, Dr. King traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, to help sanitation workers who were on strike. On April 3, 1968, Dr. King would give what would be his last speech:
- "We've got some difficult days ahead, but it doesn't matter with me now, because I have been to the mountaintop, and I don't mind."
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place, but I'm not concerned about that now."
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."
I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm not fearing any man."
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
The following day, April 4, 1968, as he and others were leaving his motel room, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated by James Earl Ray.
In November of 1983, President Reagan signed a bill proclaiming the third Monday of January, beginning in 1986, as an official federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people, but it seems the good, they die young.
You know I just looked around and he's gone.
Anybody here seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people, but it seems the good, they die young.
I just looked around and he's gone.
Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people, but it seems the good, they die young.
I just looked around and he's gone.
Didn't you love the things they stood for?
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
And we'll be free
Some day soon, it's gonna be one day.
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill,
With Abraham, Martin, and John.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
The National Civil Rights Museum
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ A Biographical Sketch
James Earl Ray is Dead
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Many thanks to Bill for helping me rememberthe name of this wonderful song so I could search for it!