Coretta Scott King - Author, Family and Childhood
Coretta Scott King's Personal Details
Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist and the wife of Martin Luther King Jr
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 27, 1927 |
| Died on | January 30, 2006 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Activists, Civil Rights Activists, Author |
| City/State | Alabama |
| Spouses | Martin Luther King Jr. |
| Childrens | Bernice King, Dexter Scott King, Yolanda King |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Heiberger |
| Height | 170 |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Obadiah Scott (1899–1998) |
| Mother | Bernice McMurry Scott (1904–1996) |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Heiberger |
| Famous as | Civil Rights Activist, Author |
| Died at Age | 78 |
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Coretta Scott King's photo
Who is Coretta Scott King?
Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist and the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., who headed the American civil rights struggle. King was an advocate of non-violence and women’s rights. She was actively involved in the ‘Civil Rights Movement,’ with her husband. King grew up in a middle-class African–American family. While in school, she faced several hardships due to the social system, which did not allow colored children to mingle with the whites. Being a victim of racial discrimination forced King to become active in anti-racist movements. She was a talented singer and wanted to build a career in music. Her marriage to Martin Luther King Jr. changed the course of her life. She worked hand in hand with her husband, to secure equal rights for the African–American people. She was against the idea of men leading the civil rights struggle and tried to gather more female support. Following her husband’s assassination, King was required to take over the reins of the movement started by him. She broadened the scope of her work, to include LGBT rights, world peace, and several other causes. King established an organization named after her husband, to spread the message of non-violent social change. As a result of her relentless campaigns, King Jr.’s birthday was declared a national holiday. King openly criticized the system of apartheid. She is fondly remembered as the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement.”
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Childhood & Early Life
Coretta Scott King was born on April 27, 1927, in Alabama. She was the third child of her parents, Obadiah King and Bernice McMurry King. She had two elder sisters, Edythe and Eunice, and a younger brother, Obadiah Leonard. The Kings owned a farm and were financially better placed than the other African–American families of the area. King’s father was one of the first black people to own a vehicle.
In order to support her family’s income, King started working on the farm from an early age. She attended the ‘Lincoln Normal School.’ The school was 14 kilometers from their home, but it was the closest school that allowed black children. King graduated in 1945. She was a talented singer, which made her the leading soprano of the school choir.
After graduation, King attended ‘Antioch College’ in Ohio. Although the college allowed non-white students, King was among the handful of black students to study there. Racial discrimination toward colored students urged her to become active in the ‘National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’ (NAACP). Later, she won a scholarship to the ‘New England Conservatory of Music’ in Boston.
Career
While studying in Boston, King met Martin Luther King Jr., through a mutual friend. They became close, as they both believed in equal rights and fought for it. King Jr.’s father reminded King that as the wife of a Baptist minister, she would not be able to pursue a career in music. Their love was unmoved, and ultimately, they got the consent of their parents. The couple married in June 1953, at King’s family home. King completed her graduation in voice and piano, before moving to Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband.
In 1954, King Jr. became the full-time pastor of the ‘Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.’ King gave up her dreams of becoming a classical singer and started teaching in Sunday schools. She was also a member of the church choir. When King Jr. initiated the ‘Montgomery Bus Boycott,’ to protest against racial discrimination, King extended her wholehearted support. Even after receiving threatening phone calls, she was unshaken.
King took an active part in campaigning for civil rights legislation. She incorporated her musical abilities into her campaigns. In April 1958, King gave her first performance, at a concert in Birmingham. She changed the format of the show and told the story of the ‘Montgomery Bus Boycott’ through her songs. She organized “freedom concerts,” where she sang, read poetry, and gave lectures, to raise funds for the ‘Southern Christian Leadership Conference’ (SCLC) that was founded by her husband.
King was known for providing rock-solid support to her husband, even in critical situations. In January 1956, there was a bombing and explosion at their residence, which was triggered by the whites who detested civil rights activists. King was fearless and refused to leave her husband, despite their parents’ requests. When, in 1958, King Jr. was stabbed by a protestor, King remained by his bed till he recovered completely.
King maintained personal contacts with President John F Kennedy. In 1960, King Jr. was jailed for four months. Kennedy, who was a presidential candidate at that time, called up King, and promised all help. In 1963, King Jr. was arrested again. Kennedy, who was the president at that time, offered assistance, and King was allowed to talk to her husband.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside a hotel in Memphis. The next day, King received his body and conducted the funeral proceedings. Four days after her husband’s death, King traveled to Memphis, to take part in a protest march in support of sanitation workers of the area, who were on strike. The march had been planned by King Jr. Although she was till mourning her husband’s death, King led the march as planned.
Shortly after the death of King Jr., King took over the leadership of the ‘Civil Rights Movement.’ On April 27, 1968, she spoke at an anti-war demonstration, where her husband was to speak. King gradually broadened her area of work, to include women’s rights, LGBT rights, and world peace. She voiced her opinions on the Vietnam War, too.
King founded the ‘Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change’ and served as its president for a long time. This organization was intended to protect the legacy and ideas of her husband. King took efforts to gather documents and papers belonging to her husband, which were scattered in different locations.
King led a 15-year campaign geared toward the recognition of her husband’s contributions. Her efforts bore fruits, and in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill declaring her husband’s birthday as ‘Martin Luther King Jr. Day,’ a federal holiday. It is observed on the third Monday of January, every year.
During the 1980s, King voiced her opposition against the apartheid in South Africa. She participated in protests against this racial discrimination. In 1986, King traveled to South Africa and met the major leaders, including Winnie Mandela. King was an activist for world peace. She was one of the founders of the ‘Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy.’
King was a supporter of lesbian rights. She requested the amendment of the ‘Civil Rights Act,’ to include the lesbian and gay community. In April 1998, she urged the civil rights community to join the struggle against homophobia. In 2003, she invited the lesbian community to participate in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the ‘March on Washington.’ It was the first time that the LGBT community was invited to a major African–American event.
Personal Life
King had four children: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice. Her children followed in their parents’ footsteps and became noted civil rights activists. After being at the head of the ‘King Center’ for many years, King handed over the reins to her son, Dexter.
In August 2005, King suffered a stroke and a mild heart attack. Her condition improved for a while but deteriorated again. In January 2006, she made her last public appearance at a dinner honoring her husband’s memory. On January 30, 2006, King breathed her last at the ‘Oasis Hospital’ in Mexico. She was undergoing therapy for her stroke and an advanced-stage ovarian cancer. The funeral was held in Georgia and was attended by former US presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter.
Awards & Achievements
In 1969, King published her memoirs, ‘My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr.’ She received several awards and honors in her life. In 1987, she received the ‘Candace Award for Distinguished Service’ from the ‘National Coalition of 100 Black Women.’ In 1997, King received the ‘Golden Plate Award’ from the ‘Academy of Achievement.’ In 2004, she was honored with the ‘Gandhi Peace Prize’ by the ‘Government of India.’
Trivia
King was associated with Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of John F Kennedy, and Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert Kennedy. Both the ladies had lost their husbands to assassinations. She supported them in times of grief.
King faced criticism for the way she handled King Jr.’s estates. She demanded a retrial for her husband’s assassin, James Earl Ray. King believed that Ray was not the only person guilty of the crime.
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Coretta Scott King's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Alabama Women's Hall of Fame | |
| 0 | Candace Award | |
| 0 | Congressional Gold Medal | |
| 0 | Four Freedoms Award | |
| 0 | Wateler Peace Prize | |
| 0 | National Women's Hall of Fame | |
Coretta Scott King biography timelines
- // 27th Apr 1927Coretta Scott King was born on April 27, 1927, in Alabama. She was the third child of her parents, Obadiah King and Bernice McMurry King. She had two elder sisters, Edythe and Eunice, and a younger brother, Obadiah Leonard. The Kings owned a farm and were financially better placed than the other African–American families of the area. King’s father was one of the first black people to own a vehicle.
- // 1945In order to support her family’s income, King started working on the farm from an early age. She attended the ‘Lincoln Normal School.’ The school was 14 kilometers from their home, but it was the closest school that allowed black children. King graduated in 1945. She was a talented singer, which made her the leading soprano of the school choir.
- // 1953While studying in Boston, King met Martin Luther King Jr., through a mutual friend. They became close, as they both believed in equal rights and fought for it. King Jr.’s father reminded King that as the wife of a Baptist minister, she would not be able to pursue a career in music. Their love was unmoved, and ultimately, they got the consent of their parents. The couple married in June 1953, at King’s family home. King completed her graduation in voice and piano, before moving to Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband.
- // 1954In 1954, King Jr. became the full-time pastor of the ‘Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.’ King gave up her dreams of becoming a classical singer and started teaching in Sunday schools. She was also a member of the church choir. When King Jr. initiated the ‘Montgomery Bus Boycott,’ to protest against racial discrimination, King extended her wholehearted support. Even after receiving threatening phone calls, she was unshaken.
- // 1956King was known for providing rock-solid support to her husband, even in critical situations. In January 1956, there was a bombing and explosion at their residence, which was triggered by the whites who detested civil rights activists. King was fearless and refused to leave her husband, despite their parents’ requests. When, in 1958, King Jr. was stabbed by a protestor, King remained by his bed till he recovered completely.
- // 1960King maintained personal contacts with President John F Kennedy. In 1960, King Jr. was jailed for four months. Kennedy, who was a presidential candidate at that time, called up King, and promised all help. In 1963, King Jr. was arrested again. Kennedy, who was the president at that time, offered assistance, and King was allowed to talk to her husband.
- // 1968On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside a hotel in Memphis. The next day, King received his body and conducted the funeral proceedings. Four days after her husband’s death, King traveled to Memphis, to take part in a protest march in support of sanitation workers of the area, who were on strike. The march had been planned by King Jr. Although she was till mourning her husband’s death, King led the march as planned.
- // 1969In 1969, King published her memoirs, ‘My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr.’ She received several awards and honors in her life. In 1987, she received the ‘Candace Award for Distinguished Service’ from the ‘National Coalition of 100 Black Women.’ In 1997, King received the ‘Golden Plate Award’ from the ‘Academy of Achievement.’ In 2004, she was honored with the ‘Gandhi Peace Prize’ by the ‘Government of India.’
- // 1983King led a 15-year campaign geared toward the recognition of her husband’s contributions. Her efforts bore fruits, and in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill declaring her husband’s birthday as ‘Martin Luther King Jr. Day,’ a federal holiday. It is observed on the third Monday of January, every year.
- // 1998King was a supporter of lesbian rights. She requested the amendment of the ‘Civil Rights Act,’ to include the lesbian and gay community. In April 1998, she urged the civil rights community to join the struggle against homophobia. In 2003, she invited the lesbian community to participate in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the ‘March on Washington.’ It was the first time that the LGBT community was invited to a major African–American event.
- // 2005 To 2006In August 2005, King suffered a stroke and a mild heart attack. Her condition improved for a while but deteriorated again. In January 2006, she made her last public appearance at a dinner honoring her husband’s memory. On January 30, 2006, King breathed her last at the ‘Oasis Hospital’ in Mexico. She was undergoing therapy for her stroke and an advanced-stage ovarian cancer. The funeral was held in Georgia and was attended by former US presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter.
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Coretta Scott King's FAQ
What is Coretta Scott King birthday?
Coretta Scott King was born at 1927-04-27
When was Coretta Scott King died?
Coretta Scott King was died at 2006-01-30
Where was Coretta Scott King died?
Coretta Scott King was died in Rosarito Beach
Which age was Coretta Scott King died?
Coretta Scott King was died at age 78
Where is Coretta Scott King's birth place?
Coretta Scott King was born in Heiberger
What is Coretta Scott King nationalities?
Coretta Scott King's nationalities is American
Who is Coretta Scott King spouses?
Coretta Scott King's spouses is Martin Luther King Jr.
Who is Coretta Scott King childrens?
Coretta Scott King's childrens is Bernice King, Dexter Scott King, Yolanda King
What was Coretta Scott King universities?
Coretta Scott King studied at Antioch University, Antioch College, New England Conservatory of Music
How tall is Coretta Scott King?
Coretta Scott King's height is 170
Who is Coretta Scott King's father?
Coretta Scott King's father is Obadiah Scott (1899–1998)
Who is Coretta Scott King's mother?
Coretta Scott King's mother is Bernice McMurry Scott (1904–1996)
What is Coretta Scott King's sun sign?
Coretta Scott King is Taurus
How famous is Coretta Scott King?
Coretta Scott King is famouse as Civil Rights Activist, Author