Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Early Years

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Dr. King was the 2^nd of three children.

Dr. King's early education showed a drive and determination that was so characteristic of his entire life. He first entered school at the Yonge Street elementary School in Atlanta at the early age of five. His age was discovered, however, and his stint at Yonge was cut short, as he was prohibited from continuing. At age six, he was enrolled in David T. Howard Elementary School. King's school career also included attendance at the Atlanta University Laboratory School and Booker T. Washington High School. Not surprisingly, King scored extremely well on college entrance exams during his junior year at Booker T. Washington HS, and was admitted to Morehouse College at the age of fifteen. (King had skipped both his ninth and twelfth grades.)

King graduated from Morehouse College in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. He immediately enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, and pursued studies at the University of Pennsylvania while enrolled at Crozer. He received his degree in Divinity from Crozer in 1951. As could be expected from a man of King's excellence, he was elected Senior Class President, and received the J. Lewis Crozer Fellowship for graduate study at the University of the student's choice.

King chose Boston University, and began his doctoral studies in the fall of 1951. As he did at Crozer, King also studied at two schools at the same time. While pursuing his doctoral studies at Boston University, he also studied at Harvard. His dissertation titled "A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman," was completed in 1955. King received his Ph.D degree in June, 1955 from Boston University.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was respected worldwide by the academic community. He was awarded numerous honorary degrees from both United States colleges and universities and overseas higer education facilities as well. A partial listing of his honorary degrees include:

• Doctor of Laws, Howard University

• Doctor of Divinity, Chicago Theological Seminary

• Doctor of Laws, Morgan State University

• Doctor of Humanities, Central State University

• Doctor of Divinity, Boston University

• Doctor of Laws, Lincoln University

• Doctor of Laws, University of Bridgeport

• Doctor of Civil Laws, Bard College

• Doctor of Letters, Keuka College

• Doctor of Divinity, Wesleyan College

• Doctor of Laws, Jewish Theological Seminary

• Doctor of Laws, Yale University

• Doctor of Divinity, Springfield College

• Doctor of Laws, Hofstra University

• Doctor of Humane Letters, Oberlin College

• Doctor of Social Science, Amsterdam Free University

• Doctor of Divinity, St. Peter's College

• Doctor of Civil Law, University of New Castle, Upon Tyne

Dr. King also began his career as an ordained minister early in his life. He was officially ordained at the age of nineteen at his father's church, the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and immediately became Assistant Pastor there. Upon completion of his Doctorate at Boston University, he was called to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where he filled the pulpit from September 1954 to November 1959.

The early history of the education and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is remarkable to study. This man, whose legacy still lives on in this country and around the world, is a shining example of drive, determination, and excellence.

Source:
http://www.mlkday.gov/about/overview/index.asp