Martin Luther King Birthday (Date, Age, How Old)
Martin Luther King Birthday (Date, Age, How Old)
Last Updated: January 14, 2025
Fast Facts
Birth date:
January 15, 1929
Death date:
April 4, 1968 (age 39)
Zodiac Sign:
Capricorn
Background
Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr. was the son of Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Initially named Michael King, the name was changed by his father in 1934 as part of a gradual transition.
King was the middle child, with an older sister named Christine King Farris and a younger brother named A.D. King. He had a passion for music and sang in his church choir during the 1939 premiere of “Gone with the Wind” in Atlanta. As a child, he formed a friendship with a white boy whose father owned a business nearby; however, their friendship was cut short when they started school at age six, attending segregated institutions.
In 1955, Dr. King earned his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University with a dissertation titled “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.” During his studies, he served as an assistant minister at the historic Twelfth Baptist Church in Boston under Reverend William Hunter Hester, a close friend of his father and a significant influence on him. That same year, Claudette Colvin, a fifteen-year-old black girl in Montgomery, and Rosa Parks months later, both declined to surrender their bus seats to white men. This sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, organized by Edgar Daniel Nixon and led by King, which catapulted him to national prominence as a key figure in the civil rights movement.
Career timeline
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Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King enters the world.
After completing his studies at Morehouse College in Atlanta, King earns a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.
In a significant moment, King becomes the President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
King authors and publishes his debut book titled ‘Stride Toward Freedom’, focusing on the Montgomery bus boycotts.
After King was arrested during protests, Birmingham emerged as the focal point of the Civil Rights Movement.
At the Lincoln Memorial, King delivered his iconic “I have a dream” speech.
In recognition of his efforts in the Civil Rights Movement, King received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Martin Luther King was assassinated by James Earl Ray, sparking widespread riots throughout the United States.
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The Significance of Martin Luther King
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He envisioned a better future
Martin Luther King, Jr. had aspirations beyond a mere speech; he envisioned a reality where segregation was abolished, and humanity was valued regardless of skin color.
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He motivated an entire nation
While King could not single-handedly alter the world, his impactful words sparked a fire within many activists waiting for an opportunity to enact change, inspiring them to strive for equality across the nation.
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Without him, we might not have our diverse friendships
You likely enjoy a circle of friends from various religions, backgrounds, and ethnicities. The groundwork laid by Dr. King and others like him enabled these valuable connections in your life!
MLK Day: Five Steps to Establish a National Holiday
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The initiation of the national holiday campaign
The effort to establish a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. commenced shortly after his assassination, though it wasn’t officially recognized in all 50 states until the year 2000.
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The initial bill faced defeat in the House
The U.S. House of Representatives first voted on the bill in 1979, falling short by five votes of what was required for approval.
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The campaign intensified with the backing of celebrities
In 1980, to garner support from both the corporate sector and the public, the King Center received a major boost when musician Stevie Wonder released the hit “Happy Birthday” to champion the cause.
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Some states postponed changing the holiday’s name
For instance, New Hampshire took until 1999 to rename the holiday from Civil Rights Day to Martin Luther King Day, following a vote by the State Legislature.
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The last state to recognize MLK Day
As of 2000, Utah was the final state to officially name a holiday after Martin Luther King Jr., completing the nationwide recognition of MLK Day.
“`after King, by officially designating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in place of Human Rights Day.
