23 Interesting Facts About Martin Luther King, Jr (No. 20 Will Amaze You!)

Martin Luther King, Jr. played a key role in the American civil rights movement until his assassination in 1968, He was a Baptist minister and a human rights activist who sought equality for black Americans. He is considered one of the great leaders of our times, who advocated for peaceful activism. You may know already, a lot about him, but here are 30 Interesting Martin Luther King Facts you might be unaware of!

Interesting Facts About Martin Luther King Jr:

1. The civil rights icon was born on January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, Us.
2. He was originally named Michael, it was later that his father traveled to Germany and named his son after Protestant Reformist Leader Martin Luther! King Sr changed his and his 5-year-old son’s name.
3. He is referred to by his initials MLK by many.
4. King enrolled in college at the young age of 15! He was a bright lad who skipped grades and in 1944 enrolled in Morehouse College!
5. Martin Luther King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
6. He had a bachelors in sociology and a Ph.D in theology
7. Martin Luther King had experienced racism at just six years old when he was forbidden to play with his white friends by their father.
8. He was greatly influenced by Mohandas Gandhi, who led the peaceful protests against the Britishers who had occupied India.
9. His favorite song was “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.”
10. Martin Luther King became prominent in 1955 for his role in organizing a bus boycott.
11. He played a key role in passing civil rights act’s which outlawed racial segregation in America.
12. Martin Luther King was imprisoned 30 times!
13. He gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 at rally named ‘March on Washington’ in front of 250,000 people.
14. Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, a year after his iconic “I have a dream” speech.
15. Martin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
16. He was assassinated in 1968, where he gave a speech a day before, In Tennessee.
17. He was murdered by James Earl Ray, a career criminal.
18. A statue built in his memory in Washington D.C
19. The motel where he was killed, is now the National Civil Rights Museum.
20. In United States More more than 730 streets have been named after Martin Luther King, Jr.
21. His favorite song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” was played at his funeral.
22. Martin Luther King Jr Day is a Holiday observed on the third Monday of January, around the day he was he was born, January 15.
23. In the US only three people have a national holiday: Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
24. The Holiday celebrates the life Martin Luther King Jr who fought systematic racial segregation amongst the black and white, which existed back then.
25. George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr are the only Americans whose birthday are declared national holiday’s.

If you know more Interesting Martin Luther King Jr Facts and want to share with us then be sure to let us know, we’d update our list.