12 Little Known Facts about Martin Luther King Jr.

By | March 21, 2018

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Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. (National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a famous social activist that played a critical role in the American Civil Rights Movement.

I am confident in declaring that Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. is most definitely one of the most famous social activists in the world, to date. Dr. King was best known for being a critical and peaceful role in the American Civil Rights Movement. He traveled countless miles to fight against the injustice of racial inequality.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister who made it his business to deliver thousands of speeches in the effort to promote equality. He led a high-profile adult life. For all of his human and civil rights efforts, hundreds of streets, buildings, parks and schools have been named after the iconic leader.

When a person is in the spotlight, there is usually a familiarity the public identifies with. We feel as if we know the public figure on a very personal level. There were, however, many things we never knew about Dr. King. Sometimes people forget that public figures have private lives. Below is a list of facts about the famous civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that might surprise you.

Martin Luther King Jr. Was Originally Named Michael King Jr.

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King’s father was the Reverend Michael King, Sr., and he initially named his son after himself. King Sr. traveled to Germany in the 1930’s, and was “taken” and inspired by Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther. So much so, that he legally changed his name to Martin Luther King, Sr. After changing his own name, he legally changed his son’s name to match his own.

MLK, Jr. smoked cigarettes.

He was not proud of the fact that he smoked cigarettes. MLK tried desperately to keep the habit a secret from his family, friends and the media, but he was a lifelong smoker.

MLK, Jr. was brilliant!

Martin Luther King Jr. began attending college at the age 15. He was so intelligent that he skipped grades ahead of his peers. He attended Morehouse College where he joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.