Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Information Resource Centre - U.S. Embassy Nigeria

Genre: Biography

Language: English

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. Dr King grew up as the son of a leading minister in Atlanta, Georgia, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. His mother, Mrs Alberta Williams King, assisted her husband in the care of his congregation. Because of their efforts and interest on behalf of the congregation and the community, his parents were known as 'Momma' and 'Daddy' King. His community, centred on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta also influenced him. By the 1930s when he was a child, it was the centre of business and social life in Black Atlanta and the major centre for the Black Southeast. The community was so successful that nationwide, it was known as "Sweet Auburn". The residential neighbourhoods of the community, and especially the one where Dr King was born were known for the diversity of the backgrounds of the residents. Though all Black, the neighbourhoods had business people, labourers, college-educated, uneducated, rich, poor and successful all living close to each other.