Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

1929-1968

Monday, January 15, 2018

I would venture to say that most of my readers are familiar with the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  According to the King Center website (thekingcenter.org), Dr. King sought to bring about non-violent social change by addressing poverty, racism, and militarism. He was a fascinating man, to be sure.

But did you know?

• He was born in January 15, 1929 as Michael King, Jr.
  When he was 5 years old, his father changed his own name and that of his son to Martin Luther King after the European reformation leader.
• Dr. King was only 15 when he entered Morehouse College and graduated with a Sociology degree.
  He earned a divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary.
  He obtained his Ph.D. from Boston University.
• Dr. King was once jailed in Montgomery, Alabama for driving 30 miles per hour in a 25 MPH zone.
  He was imprisoned 28 other times, primarily for acts of civil disobedience.
• In 1958, a woman stabbed him in the chest with a 7-inch letter opener, just missing his aorta.
• In 1974, a man stood up in the Ebenzer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga and fatally shot Alberta Williams King, Dr. King's mother, as she played the organ.
• President Ronald Reagan signed the bill that created the national holiday to honor Dr. King.
• It is estimated that over 900 cities in the United States have streets named after Dr. King. Chicago was the first.

And did you know there were several prominent people assassinated in the United States in the 1960s?

• 1963 - President John F. Kennedy
• 1965 - Malcom X
• 1968 - Robert F. Kennedy
• 1968 - Martin Luther King, Jr

So today as we enjoy this federal holiday, let us remember not only Dr. King, but others who have gone before us to pave the way for love and acceptance for all.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:36-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, help us to remember that you were the first to embrace non-violent change. It is because of your acceptance of all people that we should do the same. May we never forget that in your eyes we are all created equal.  

princeton.edu