Fun Facts about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By S. Jones
01/15/2025
Get to know Dr. King!
Fun Facts About Dr. King
1. Young Martin started college at age 15!
He skipped both the 9th and 12th grades and began at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA in 1944. He didn't intend to become a minister as his father, grandfather, and great grandfather before him, but as destiny had it, he became a 4th generation ordained Baptist minister.
Dr. King graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Morehouse College, a divinity degree from Pennsylvania’s Crozer Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Boston University in 1955.
2. National Recognition Took 32 Years
The Dr. Martin Luther King holiday we have enjoyed for the past 40 years didn't come easily. Just 4 days after his assassination, civil rights activists started to call for a day to recognize the work and legacy of Dr. King.
It took 15 years and a lot of pressure from activists, petitions with hundreds of thousands of signature, backing from President Carter, testimonials from his widow, and even the activism of Stevie Wonder to finally pass the bill to create a federal holiday in Dr. King's name in 1983.
It was not until the year 2000, 17 years later, that all 50 states recognized the holiday.
"I just never understood / How a man who died for good / Could not have a day that would / Be set aside for his recognition ... in peace, our hearts will sing / Thanks to Martin Luther King" - Stevie Wonder
3. Martin's Given Name was Michael
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15, 1929. When he was born, he was actually named Michael King Jr. after his father, Michael King Sr.
When MLK was 5 years old his father changed both of their names to Martin Luther after being inspired by the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther on a trip to Germany.
4. He was Attacked at a Book Signing at Age 29
Dr. King was attacked at a book signing of "Stride Toward Freedom" at the age of 29, 10 years before his assassination. A woman, later identified as mentally ill, stabbed him in the chest with a penknife narrowly missing his aorta.
Luckily, no one removed the knife and he was quickly transported to a hospital where the knife was surgically removed. It was said that a sneeze could have cause the knife to penetrate his aorta. This would have caused a life threatening injury he likely would not have survived.
Reporters interviewed Dr. King 10 days after his attack where he verbalized he had no ill will toward his attacker and he would continue his dedication to nonviolence stating,
"A climate of hatred and bitterness so permeates areas of our nation that inevitably deeds of extreme violence must erupt. The experience of these last few days has deepened my faith in the relevance of the spirit of nonviolence, if necessary social change is peacefully to take place."
5. A National Holiday Recognition is Rare
Dr. King is one of only four Americans to honored with a national holiday. The other three are George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Caesar Chavez!
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”