Martin Luther King Jr. Biography

Martin Luther King Jr. was famous for his dreams. He was born January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia to Alberta King and his Michael Luther King. He was originally named Michael Luther King Jr. and later changed his first name to Martin. He started out as a Baptist minister and helped to found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. During that time he became a one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement.

In 1948 Martin Luther King received a Bachelors Degree in sociology after attending the Morehouse College. In 1953 he married Coretta Scott. They later had four children.

In 1955 black residents launched a bus boycott after Rosa Parks retaliated against for refusing to go to the back of a public bus. The boycott elected Martin Luther King Jr. the president of the Montgomery Improvement Association.

In 1957 Martin Luther King Jr. was award 3 honorary degrees; Doctor of Humane Letters, Morehouse College, Doctor of Laws, Howard University and Doctor of Divinity, Chicago Theological Seminary.

1958 was another exciting year for Martin Luther King. He published his first book, Stride Toward Freedom. He was also awarded the Doctor of Laws from Morgan State College and the Doctor of Humanities, from Central State College.

In 1959 he received the Doctor of Divinity from Boston University.

In 1961 He received two more Honorary degrees Doctor of Laws from Lincoln University and Doctor of Laws and University of Bridgeport.

Martin Luther King Jr. supported the movement of black students for sit-in protests formed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960. In 1961 he decided not to participate in the Freedom Rides and younger activists got very upset. He then faced criticism for not participating in the rides.

In 1962 Martin Luther King Jr. received the Doctor of Civil Laws from the Bard College.