Timeline: Martin Luther King

Jan 15, 1929

Martin Luther King is born

Michael Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta, Georgia, born to a Protestant family where the men in the family were pastors starting from his grandfather. Image: His childhood home

Period: Jan 15, 1929 to Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King's years alive

Jan 1, 1943

Graduates from High School

At the age of 15 (specific date and school unknown), he graduates high school.

Jan 1, 1943

Enters College

At the age of 15, he enters Morehouse College in Atalanta, Georgia. Specific time unknown

Jan 1, 1948

Graduates from Morehouse College

He graduates from Morehouse with a B.A. Degree. Specific Time Unknown

Jan 1, 1951

Awarded B.D. Degree

MLK earns a B.D. Degree from Boston University School of Theology's doctorate program at the age of 21 after 3 years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. The university was one of a few that allowed African Americans into their doctorate programs. Although it was not visibly seen, the students at the campus avoided African Americans and segragated themselves from them. Specific Time Unknown.

Jan 1, 1954

Becomes Pastor

Martin Luther King becomes a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama where his father and grandfather before him had also been pastors. Specific Time Unknown

Jan 1, 1955

Earns Doctorate Degree

He enters BU's graduate program with a fellowship won at Crozer in 1951, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 then earning it in 1955. Specific Time Unknown

Dec 1, 1955

Leads 1st Negro Demonstration

In early December of 1955, MLK, already an avid member of the civil rights movement, accepted leadership of leading the 1st Negro Nonviolent movement in the USA by boycotting buses in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott lasted 382 days.
Specific Date Unknown.

Dec 1, 1955

MLK Issues Montgomery Bus Boycott

Inspired by Rosa Parks, MLK and the Montgomery Improvement Association issues the 13-month bus boycott in Montgomery to protest civil rights on buses.

Dec 21, 1956

Supreme Court denounces segregation on buses

After 382 days of boycotting the buses, the Supreme Court denounced the laws requiring segregation on buses; everyone would ride the buses as equals. During the boycott, he had been arrested, his home was bombed, and he had been subjected to personal abuse. Image: Mugshot of MLK.

Jan 1, 1957

Appointed as President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

In 1957, MLK was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to fight for the civil rights movement.

Aug 28, 1963

I Have A Dream Speech

Delivered during the American Civil Rights Movement, he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to over 250,000 civil rights protestors.

Jan 1, 1964

Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

The youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize at that time, MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35 'For Civil Rights and Social Justice'.

Nov 13, 1967

Awarded Honorary Degree by Newcastle University

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King is assassinated

At Memphis, Tennessee , on the balcony of his room at a motel, where he was leading a protest march with striking garbage workers of that city, he was shot by James Earl Ray, who was hired by Lord Jowers, given 100,000 dollars by a man who ordered him to hire a hitman to kill King.

Mar 10, 1970