The story of Martin Luther King, Jr. is one worth teaching to children. It’s a story of dedication, persistence, compassion, and love. The works of this great man not only served the African Americans, but humanity as well. Martin Luther King, Jr. revealed through his actions the dignity and value of all human beings. He was truly a man worthy of sainthood.
Below you’ll find a chronology of events in Martin Luther King’s life as well as a FREE printable of this timeline.
Martin Luther King Jr. Timeline
January 15, 1929
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
September 20, 1944
Starts his first year at Morehouse College in Atlanta at the age of 15.
August 6, 1946
King’s “Kick Up Dust” Letter to the Editor is published in the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. In it King voices his belief that African Americans “are entitled to the basic rights and opportunities of American citizens.”
February 25, 1948
Ordained a Baptist minister.
June 8, 1948
Graduates from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Sociology.
September 14, 1948
Starts his first year at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania.
May 8, 1951
Graduates from Crozer Theological Seminary with a bachelor of divinity degree.
September 13, 1951
Begins his doctoral studies at Boston University.
June 18, 1953
Marries Coretta Scott.
June 5, 1955
Graduates from Boston University with a doctorate in systematic theology.
November 17, 1955
Coretta gives birth to their first child, Yolanda Denise King.
December 5, 1955
Elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Organization which was formed soon after the arrest of Rosa Parks. The MIO assisted with the Montgomery bus boycott.
January 30, 1956
King’s home is bombed.
November 13, 1956
U.S. Supreme Court declares bus segregation laws are unconstitutional.
December 21, 1956
King is one of the first people to ride on a Montgomery city bus that is unsegregated.
February 18, 1957
Appears on the cover of Time Magazine.
May 17, 1957
King gives his “Give Us the Ballot” speech to a crowd of 15,000 at the Lincoln Memorial.
June 13, 1957
Ralph D. Abernathy and King meet with Vice President Richard Nixon.
October 23, 1957
Coretta gives birth to their second child, Martin, III.
June 23, 1958
King meets with President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
September 17, 1958
King’s book Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story is published.
February 3, 1959
Goes to India to study Gandhi’s methods of nonviolent resistance.
October 19, 1960
Is arrested for participating in a sit-in demonstration at a department store in Atlanta, Georgia.
January 31, 1961
Coretta gives birth to their third child, Dexter Scott.
October 16, 1961
Meets with President John F. Kennedy to recommend that a second Emancipation Proclamation be issued to eliminate segregation.
December 16, 1961
King is arrested at a protest in Albany, Georgia.
July 27, 1962
King is arrested at a prayer vigil in Albany, Georgia.
March 28, 1963
Coretta gives birth to their fourth child, Bernice Albertine.
April 12, 1963
King is arrested in Birmingham, Alabama.
April 16, 1963
Writes “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
August 28, 1963
King delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech to more than 200,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. Afterwards, he meets with President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.
January 3, 1964
King is named “Man of the Year” in Time Magazine.
December 10, 1964
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
August 6, 1965
Voting Rights Act is signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It allows African Americans the right to vote. King now turns his attention to improving socioeconomic conditions.
April 4, 1968
King is fatally shot in Memphis, Tennessee.
* * * * *
Here is the link to the printable of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Timeline. It is free for family, homeschool, co-op, or classroom use.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Timeline
I hope you find all of these resources helpful for teaching your children about Martin Luther King, Jr.
Many blessings,
