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Who is Martin Luther King?

Dr. Martin Luther King was a Baptist preacher and a political activist, although he lived fewer than 40 years he has changed many lives especially for African Americans. During the 1950’s the 1960’s Martin led inspiring campaigns through out the United states, these campaigns gave the opportunity for the black Americans to gain civil rights and push their self-esteem factor during the segregation era. Martin Luther King believed in nonviolent protest, his struggle for black civil rights, and the opposition to the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King, Jr also changed the names that the black Americans were called, Martin Luther King was one of the most inspirational people that walked on the surface of the earth.

Early life

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia. At first, he was known as Michael, after his father but in 1934 his father changed his name and his sons name to Martin Luther after the German leader of the protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Although he grew up in a loving home there were definitely some tensions going on. His strong willed and strict father dominated the household, Martin Sr. his father had struggled for his education and to become the pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, so he intended that Martin Luther, his older sister Christine, and his younger brother Alfred Daniel had an easier path through life. Martin Sr. always demanded good behavior and hard work, so he beat his children if he thought they had done something wrong. Martin Luther King had two close women who basically helped him through anything he encountered, the first women was his mother, Alberta, whose father had been the previous pastor of Ebenezer Church, she was known for her gentle personality and the women who lived under her husbands shadow. The other women were his maternal grandmother, she was really warm and caring, and Martin Luther had a special relationship with her.

Starting School

Martin Luther King first school was called the Yonge Street Elementary School; he had a tough time dealing with school because he was an African American so life was harsh. When Martin was in Elementary School his best friend was a white boy, so once he stopped by his friend’s house on the way home. His friend’s parents told him that the two boys would no longer be friends because their son was white and Martin was “colored”. So then he rushed back home and told his parents about it, so it was time for the parents to tell the history of black people in the United States to their son, when Martin Luther heard about slavery his world fell apart, in response his parents told him to be strong and to be proud, saying,” you must always feel that you are somebody.”

Growing up

In 1942 Martin Luther King attended Booker T. Washington High School, when 13 years old Martin exhibited the usual anxieties and “rebelliousness of adolescence”. For him he had lots of intensity, first it was the injustice of racism, that provoked anger, second his relationship with his father was growing to be very difficult.
When he was just 15 years old, Martin entered the all-black Morehouse College, three years earlier than the normal age. At first, he struggled academically at the college this was because of his age, and because the education he got in his previous schools was poor. Even though he wasn’t as good academically his teachers saw
Him as a sharp thinker and an excellent speaker.

starting college at Chester

In 1948 Martin Jr. arrived in Chester, the town where Crozer Seminary was located. He was determined to not waste this opportunity of learning. As one of the only six young black people in a college with a student body of almost 100 students, king was also eager to prove and show himself. Just as he was comfortable and event occurred in Crozer, among kings fellow students there was a young white man from North Carolina who believed that black people should not attended college. so one day, while they were still freshman’s, the white student returned to his room to find that all of his things were destroyed and messed up, when Crozer high encountered such thing they blamed it on King. Then when the white man thought that King was the on to blame, he crashed into Kings room shouting racist things and threatening him with a gun, king simply responded with calmness and respect saying that he was not the one to blame. When this word was spread the student council decided to dismiss the white man from college and asked King if he would press charges, but king refused to and said that he accepts his apology. His kindness offered him popularity and many friends including the white man.

Seminary Studies

As years past, Martin proved his academic and this led to the eagerness of learning. Martin studied Christian theology to the ideas of secular philosophers both ancient and modern. Martin was also interested in the writings of Walter Rauschenbusch, a white Baptist preacher who had worked in the slum of New York. King also was interested to study and know about Mahatma Gandhi, also one of the most inspirational leaders. King thought it was “electrifying” what Gandhi did to let his country feel the independence in 1947 mainly by using “demonstrations”, “boycotts”, and other techniques nonviolent acts. So King was definitely “electrified” because he believed in using nonviolent acts.

From Crozer to Boston

King ended his time at Crozer in June 1951, when he graduated first in his class with a B.A. in Divinity. The seminary prize for this achievement was a $1,300 scholarship to attend any college that he chooses. The 22-year-old headed north to work on hid Ph.D at Boston University, so his father showed his proud ness by giving him a green Chevrolet car. When he entered Boston University, King decided to study Christianity and get the chance to understand it more; he also got to learn about Islam and psychology. By spring 1953, he had completed all of his courses and decided to stay in Boston to finish his Ph.D thesis.