We all know his famous "I Have a Dream" speech but did you know...
His original name was not Martin - it was Michael, named after his father.
Dr. King's father was inspired by a religious thinker named Martin Luther and changed both his name and his son's.
He was kicked out of the first grade but later skipped two grades.
Dr. King enrolled in first grade when he was 5. However, according to the school's entry requirements, he was too young and expelled. Years later, he skipped both 9th and 12h grades because of his academic achievements.
Dr. King enrolled in college when he was only 15 years old.
Since Dr. King skipped two grades, he was able to start college when he was 15. He attended Morehouse College from 1944 to 1948 and obtained a B.A. in Sociology when he was 19.
He is still the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr. King was 35 years old when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in the Civil Rights movement.
Martin Luther King Day does not actually fall on his birthday.
It is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of January and sometimes falls on his actual birthday (January 15.)
Dr. King was the first Black person to be named "Time Person of the Year."
He was on the cover of the January 1964 issue.
He was a Grammy Award winner.
Dr. King won in 1964 for "We Shall Overcome."
Dr. King was arrested 29 times.
This includes being arrested for acts of "civil disobedience" and driving over the speed limit. (Many of these were dismissed.)
He loved to play pool (billiards.)
He played for more than 20 years and is said to have won the respect of local black people through this interest.
I hope you found these facts to be as interesting as I did.
I didn't know any of these. Did you?
Be sure to amaze your children with these facts!
And don't forget to print out the below worksheets for them. It will make them think about their dream job and the dream world they want to live in.
MLK Day Worksheets:
Looking for books about MLK Jr. and civil rights?
Check out this list from She Knows.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
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