Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential and inspiring civil rights activists of the 20th century. But how much do you really know about Martin Luther King, Jr.?

We found 5 facts that most people don’t know.

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What’s in a name?

Was born Michael King, Jr. on January 15, 1929. At five-years-old, Jr’s name was legally changed to Martin Luther after the Protestant Reformation leader. King, Sr. also legally changed his name to Martin Luther. [1]

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A Gifted Child

King was considered a gifted student and skipped grades 9 and 11. Martin Luther King, Jr. entered Atlanta’s Morehouse College in 1944 at age 15. [2]

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”  [6]

Nonviolent Activism

Martin Luther King, Jr. was inspired by Gandhi’s “nonviolent activism.” In 1959, he visited Gandhi’s Indian birthplace, which had a profound effect on King. This trip helped perpetuate his commitment to “America’s civil rights struggles.” [3]

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Foretelling the Future

King eerily foretold his own death in a speech given a day before his assassination. During his speech at Mason Temple Church, he said, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now … I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” [4]

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Nobel Peace Prize

Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his “nonviolent campaign against racism.” He was 35-years-old, the youngest person to receive the Nobel Prize in that category at the time. [5]

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Sources:

[1] & [4] : KLEIN, CHRISTOPHER. 10 Things You May Not Know About Martin Luther King Jr. 4 April 2013. <http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-martin-luther-king-jr>.

[2] & [3] : Martin Luther King Jr. Biography.com. 03 January 2018. A&E Television Networks. 08 January 2018. <https://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086>.

[5] :  Martin Luther King, Jr. n.d. 8 January 2018. <https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-facts.html>.

[6] : Staff, Bio. 17 Inspiring Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. 12 January 2017. 08 January 2018. <https://www.biography.com/news/martin-luther-king-famous-quotes>.