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Little Martin grew up in Atlanta, Georgia in a 

house with his parents, grandparents, and two 

siblings. His childhood was joyful and full of 

adventure. All of the King siblings took piano 

lessons from their mother and enjoyed playing 

sports together as a family such as football and 

baseball.

As a child, King was a paperboy and aspired to be a 

fireman when he grew up. He enjoyed going to 

school and was a very successful 

student. Martin also loved to go to church 

where his father, Martin Luther King Sr. was the 

pastor.

Ever since Martin was young, he knew that there 

was a distinct difference between Blacks and Whites 

in America. If a black person wanted to eat in a 

restaurant, they had to sit in a separate section. 

They also had to sit in the back of the movie theater, 

bus, and even use separate restroom facilities. He 

didn't understand why this was. The laws that kept 

blacks and whites apart were called Jim Crow Laws.

Martin scored so high on his college entrance exam at Booker High School that he did not 

formally finish high school, but instead went on to college as a junior.

He attended Morehouse college in Atlanta with all African American boys. It was there that he 

decided he wanted to become a pastor like his father. After graduating from Morehouse, he 

attended seminary in Pennsylvania.

After becoming a pastor, King married Coretta Scott. 

Together, they had four children, two sons and two 

daughters. They then moved their family to 

Montgomery, Alabama.

Though he realized it when he was younger, Martin recognized that the problem 

between Whites and Blacks still remained. He wasn't being treated the same as his 

fellow man. He knew this wasn't fair and decided to do something about it.

This inequality inspired Martin along with another civil rights leader, 

Rosa Parks decided to lead the African Americans in a boycott of buses. 

African Americans stopped using public transportation to prove to the 

government that they needed the revenue from African American's bus 

tickets. The boycott was recognized nationwide and a new law was 

passed stating that Blacks could sit anywhere they wanted on buses.

After the success of the boycott, Martin became a well-known leader and hero in 

the African American community. He traveled all across the country, 

advocating and inspiring others to take a stand for civil rights in the United 

States. 

Equal rights for 

all!

In August of 1963 in Washington, DC., Martin Luther 

King gave a famous speech to thousands gathered. 

The "I Have a Dream" speech told of King's dream for 

true racial equality in the United States. His speech 

inspired millions and led to the passing of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964.The following year, he also won the 

Nobel Peace Prize.

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was shot and killed at the 

Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee by James Earl Ray. 

Though his life was cut short at only 39 years old, he led the 

United States towards a more equal society and made a 

difference in the lives of millions. His legacy lives on today!

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