Revolutionary Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist. From the mid 1950s until his assassination in 1968, he played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement. Below are 44 facts about this inspirational leader.
Martin Luther King Jr. Facts
1. Namesake
Martin Luther King Jr. was born Michael, not Martin. King's father travelled to Germany in 1934, became inspired by the history of Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther, and changed both his and his son’s name.
2. Early Admission
Martin Luther King Jr. skipped grade 9 and grade 12. As a result, he was only 15 years old when he entered college.
3. Had No Plans to Follow
Despite being the son and grandson of Baptist ministers, King originally had no intention of following in their footsteps. Noted theologian Benjamin E. Mays convinced King otherwise, and he was ordained before he graduated college.
