I’ve always loved and admired Martin Luther King Jr., and thought I knew most of what there was to know about his life and mission. But as it turns out, there is quite a bit I didn’t know. While we all may remember learning the facts about him in school, King’s life was full of so many incredible speeches and experiences, it’s easy to miss some of the most touching moments.
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I hope you found these little-known facts about Martin Luther King Jr. both surprising and encouraging. What an amazing man who will not be forgotten.
Share these with your friends who will appreciate them as much as you did.
A man always on the move…
From 1957 until his death in 1968, King gave over 2,500 speeches; he traveled more than 6 million miles; and he wrote five books and countless articles published in newspapers and magazines.
A man admired…
King is America’s’ second most-admired person of the 20th century, topped only by Mother Teresa, according to a 1999 Gallup poll.
A man honored…
In 1964, at age 35, King was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
A man who took things seriously…
Although Martin Luther King Jr. was only 39 at the time of his death, autopsy results revealed the he had the heart of a 60-year-old. Doctors believed this was a result of stress.
A man of a different name…
King’s original name was Michael King Jr. In 1931, his father became pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and adopted the name Martin Luther King Sr. When King was 6 years old, his father officially changed his name on his birth certificate to Martin Luther King Jr.
A man of scholarly pursuits…
King earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and one in theology. In 1955, he received his doctorate from Boston University.
A man of both faith and talent from an early age…
In 1939, 10-year-old King sang in his father’s church choir at the Atlanta gala premiere of the movie “Gone With The Wind.”
A man of great intelligence…
King skipped ninth and 12th grades in high school and entered Morehouse College in Atlanta at age 15.
A man of love (and ingenuity)…
When King married his wife Coretta, the newlyweds were rejected by a whites-only hotel. The couple opted to spend their wedding night at a Black-owned funeral home.
A man not forgotten…
There are over 900 streets worldwide named after King. Forty U.S. states have at least one Martin Luther King Jr.-named street of their own.
A man martyred…
King is one of 10 world martyrs of the 20th-century who are depicted in life-size statues at the entrance of Westminster Abbey in London.
Share these with your friends who will appreciate them as much as you did.