| |
A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr.
What I Learned Section 1 -- Answer
the Following Questions:
1. When was
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
January 15, 1929. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born at his family
home in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the second of three children.
His older sister was Willie Christine, and his younger brother
was Alfred Daniel. Martin's father, Martin Luther King, Sr., was
a pastor, and his mother, Alberta Williams King, was a former
teacher. Martin became a great leader and powerful speaker. He
spoke out against laws which discriminated against African-Americans
and led protests and marches demanding fair treatment for all
people.
Top
of Page
2. What college did
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. attend?
Morehouse College. Martin Luther King, Jr. attended Morehouse
College in Atlanta, Georgia. Did you
know he was only fifteen years old when he started
college? In 1948, Martin graduated with a B.A. degree in Sociology.
He then moved to Massachusetts, where he continued his studies
at Boston University and met Coretta Scott. In 1954, Martin began
his first job as a pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
in Montgomery, Alabama. The next year, on June 5, 1955, he received
his Ph.D. degree.
Top
of Page
3. Who did Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. marry?
Coretta Scott. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott were
married on June 18, 1953, in Marion, Alabama. Martin's father,
Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr., performed the service. They
had four children: Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott,
and Bernice Albertine.
Top
of Page
4. Who is Rosa Parks?
Rosa Parks, an African-American, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama,
in 1955, for sitting in the "White Only" section of a bus. The
arrest of Rosa Parks, on December 1, 1955, gave rise to the Montgomery
Bus Boycott led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and other African-American
community leaders. On December 5, African-American residents refused
to use the bus system. Although there was violence against the
protesters, Martin preached for a peaceful boycott, stating, "We
must meet hate with love." Eleven months later, on November 13,
1956, the United States Supreme Court ruled Alabama's state and
local laws requiring segregation on buses were unconstitutional.
The boycott finally ended on December 21, 1956. The boycott had
lasted 381 days. In 1960, Martin moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where
he continued to lead peaceful protests against "White Only" waiting
rooms, lunch counters, and rest rooms.
Top
of Page
5. What was the March
on Washington?
A march led by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963. On August 28,
1963, more than two hundred thousand people participated in the
March on Washington in Washington, D.C. On the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial, Martin delivered his famous "I
Have A Dream" speech. Did you know
Martin received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, as a campaigner
for Civil Rights?
Top
of Page
What I Learned Section 2 -- Define the
following words:
Civil Rights Movement: Efforts to win political, economic,
and social equality for African-Americans in the United States
Segregation: Discriminating against
a group, especially on the basis of race
Boycott: To abstain from buying
or using, as a means of protest
Nobel Peace Prize: One of six prizes
awarded annually for outstanding achievements for the promotion
of peace
Discriminate: To make a distinction
for or against a person on the basis of the group or class to
which the person belongs
U.S. Supreme Court: The highest
federal court in the United States
Top
of Page
Bonus Questions (Answer 1 of the
Following Questions for Your FREE
Bookmark):
a. What happened on April 4, 1968?
Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. On the tragic day of
April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was standing on the balcony
of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was in Memphis
to lead a protest for equal pay for African-American garbage workers.
Martin was shot by James Earl Ray, and died an hour later. Martin
is entombed in the Freedom Hall Complex of the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Historical Site in Atlanta, Georgia. The
stone marking his grave states, "I'm free at last."
Top
of Page
b. When is the Martin
Luther King, Jr. National Holiday observed?
On the 3rd Monday of every January. On April 8, 1968, just four
days after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, Congressman
John Conyers introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives
providing for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. Several
states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, enacted statewide
King Holidays. On November 3, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed
the bill establishing the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday.
The King Holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986.
Top
of Page
c.
Use five of the words in Section 2 in a sentence.
Answers will vary. Here are sample sentences from our young readers:
The Civil Rights Movement
took place in the 1960's.
Our laws make segregation
illegal today.
When I don't like something, I boycott
it.
The Nobel Peace Prize is given
to people who promote peace.
It is wrong to discriminate
against a person.
The U.S. Supreme Court decides
if a law is constitutional.
Top
of Page
d. Have a parent or friend give you
a spelling test with EACH of the words in Section 2.
Top
of Page
More Valuable Information about Martin
Luther King, Jr.:
The King Center
Martin Luther
King, Jr. National Historic Site
Martin Luther
King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation
Martin
Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University
Top
of Page
|
