A life in pictures: martin luther king jr.

* Office of Strategic Communications at Morehouse College A PREACHER’S SON En español | Martin Luther King Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1929, to the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams

King in the family’s home in Atlanta.  His name at birth was Michael King but it was later changed by his father, who had traveled to Germany and became inspired by Martin Luther. A star

student, King graduated from high school at age 15 then went on to Morehouse College. He later obtained graduate degrees from Crozer Theological Seminary and Boston University. 1 of 12 *

Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP HUSBAND AND FATHER While attending Boston University, King met Coretta Scott, whom he married on June 18, 1953. Less than a year later the couple moved to

Montgomery, Ala., when King became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. They had four children: Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter and Bernice. 2 of 12 * Gene Herrick/AP NATIONAL

SPOTLIGHT In 1955, King first attracted national attention when he and other civil rights activists were arrested after leading a mass boycott of public buses in Montgomery, Ala. The protest

was successful; a federal court ruled that any law requiring racially segregated seating on buses was unconstitutional. 3 of 12 * Alamy SOUTHERN LEADER In 1957, King became the president of

the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The organization advocated nonviolent tactics to effect change and was largely supported by black churches in the struggle for civil

rights. 4 of 12 * Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images CAMPAIGNS FOR CHANGE As president of the SCLC, King was involved in a number of high-profile, nonviolent civil rights

demonstrations. Among them were the 1963 campaign against racial segregation and economic injustice in Birmingham, Ala., and the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a

Dream” speech. King also led the Selma-to-Montgomery marches for African Americans to exercise their voting rights in 1965. 5 of 12 * John C. Goodwin VOICE AGAINST WAR King delivered his

first public antiwar speech, known as “Beyond Vietnam,” at New York’s Riverside Church on April 4, 1967. The speech is arguably one of the most controversial — and greatest — he ever gave. 6

of 12 * Robert Deutschman AARP OFFER: REMEMBER THE PAST, HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE Share your stories and help advocate for political support to protect your future. JOIN AARP TO SUPPORT LIVING

WITH DIGNITY AND PURPOSE. 7 of 12 * Horace Cort/AP POWER TO THE POOR King was the main organizer of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign in Washington, an effort to gain economic justice for all

the impoverished people in the United States, regardless of race. The focus was jobs and ending housing discrimination. He traveled across the country to recruit people from all walks of

life to participate in the SCLC-led protest. 8 of 12 * Joseph Louw/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images TRAGEDY IN MEMPHIS While in the throes of planning the Poor People’s Campaign, King

was fatally shot on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray while standing on a motel balcony in Memphis. King’s death ignited riots and disturbances across the nation that destroyed many city

neighborhoods and business districts. The Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, along with Jesse Jackson and King’s widow, Coretta, stepped up to lead the Poor People’s Campaign in the wake of its

slain leader. 9 of 12 * AP HOLIDAY SALUTE A campaign started in the late 1970s to have a federal holiday mark King’s birthday. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to create Martin

Luther King Jr. Day, making the civil rights leader the first African American to be honored with a federal holiday. It was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986, and was celebrated in all 50

states in 2000. 10 of 12 * Krista Rossow/Getty Images PLACE OF HONOR In 2011, King received another high honor when a memorial in his name and likeness was dedicated in Washington. He is the

first African American honored with a memorial on or near the National Mall. 11 of 12 * VIEW MORE SLIDESHOWS * 10 MUST-SEE ITEMS AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY * JFK:

PERSONAL PORTRAITS FROM A PUBLIC LIFE * 10 Successful Black Family Businesses 12 of 12