Martin Luther King Jr. is a towering figure of American history whose legacy endures to this day. A Baptist minister and civil rights activist, King is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Today, schools across the United States dedicate time to studying King’s life and teachings. Here are five fun facts about Martin Luther King Jr. that will inspire and educate students of all ages.
1) King’s real name wasn’t Martin
While we know him as Martin Luther King Jr. today, this civil rights icon was actually born Michael King Jr. His father, who was a Baptist minister, changed both his own name and his son’s name to Martin Luther in honor of the German theologian Martin Luther King after traveling to Berlin for a conference.
2) King was a gifted student
King was a gifted student from an early age, skipping both the ninth and eleventh grades before enrolling in Morehouse College in Atlanta at the age of 15. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in theology from Boston University, becoming one of the youngest students to ever receive the degree from the prestigious institution.
3) King was arrested over 20 times
Despite his commitment to nonviolence, King was arrested over 20 times in the course of his activism. He was arrested for everything from traffic violations to violating anti-protest laws. In 1963, King was famously arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, where he penned his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which became a seminal text of the civil rights movement.
4) King won the Nobel Peace Prize at 35
In 1964, at the age of 35, King became the youngest person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He won the award for his leadership in the American civil rights movement, which brought an end to the legalized segregation of African Americans in the southern United States.
5) King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was not his first address at the Lincoln Memorial
While King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is perhaps his most famous, it was not his first address at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. King gave an earlier speech at the monument in 1957, during which he pledged to continue the struggle for civil rights “until the day when justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
These fun facts about Martin Luther King Jr. offer a small window into the life and legacy of this great American. Whether you’re studying King in school or simply interested in learning more about his contributions to American history, his story is one that continues to inspire and captivate people around the world.
