Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King (née Scott; April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006) was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader. She was the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. from 1953 until his assassination in 1968. She worked hard to support equal rights for African Americans and was a leader in the civil rights movement during the 1960s. She was also a singer and often used music in her work for civil rights.

Coretta met her husband while they were both in graduate school in Boston. After his death, she continued their work, leading the fight for racial equality and becoming active in the Women's Movement. She founded the King Center and worked to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. Her efforts paid off when Ronald Reagan signed the law creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Later in life, Coretta spoke out for fairness for all people, including support for LGBTQ rights and opposition to unfair treatment of people in other countries, known as apartheid. She became friends with many important leaders, such as John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Robert F. Kennedy. In August 2005, she suffered a stroke and passed away from respiratory failure due to ovarian cancer five months later. Her funeral was attended by thousands, including several U.S. presidents. She was honored in many ways, including being the first African American to lie in state at the Georgia State Capitol.

Childhood and education

Coretta Scott was born in Heiberger, Alabama, the third of four children of Obadiah Scott and Bernice McMurry Scott. Her parents wanted her and her siblings to get a good education, even if it meant they had very little money. Coretta went to a small elementary school and later to Lincoln Normal School in Marion, Alabama, the closest black high school due to rules that kept schools separate by race at the time.

She was very good in school and graduated as valedictorian in 1945. She played music, sang, and acted in plays. She then went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she studied music and became active in working for fairness and equality for all people. She joined groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to help make a change.

New England Conservatory of Music and Martin Luther King Jr.

Coretta Scott King studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she met civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. A friend gave him her phone number after he asked about students on campus. Though Coretta was not sure at first, they began dating and quickly felt a strong connection. They liked talking about important ideas and shared their hopes for the future.

In June 1953, Coretta and Martin married. They removed a part of the wedding promise that was not fair to women, which was unusual at the time. After finishing her studies, Coretta moved with Martin to Montgomery, Alabama in 1954. Not long after, they became leaders in a big protest against unfair bus rules, known as the Montgomery bus boycott. Coretta felt proud to help make a change for fairness and equality.

Civil Rights Movement

Coretta Scott King was a strong supporter of equal rights for African Americans. She helped her husband, Martin Luther King Jr., in his important work. She took part in many activities to support fair treatment for all people.

Coretta taught Sunday school and joined church groups. She gave concerts and spoke to many people about the need for change. She traveled with Martin to different places, including India, to learn more about peaceful ways to make a difference. Coretta also worked hard to help pass important laws that would protect people's rights. She spoke up about the important roles women played in the movement, even when it was hard.

Assassination of her husband

Main article: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Coretta Scott King learned about the shooting when she returned from shopping with her daughter Yolanda. She had a hard time telling her children that their father had passed away. She received many messages of support, including one that deeply moved her.

Coretta worked hard to support her family and continue her husband’s work. She spoke to crowds about peace and equality, using notes her husband had left behind. She also started the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta to carry on his legacy. Coretta focused on many important issues, including women’s rights, economic fairness, and world peace.

Later life

Every year after her husband's passing in 1968, Coretta Scott King attended a special service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to honor his birthday on January 15. She worked hard for many years to make this day a national holiday. Her efforts finally paid off in 1986 when Martin Luther King Jr. Day became an official federal holiday.

Coretta was also very active in many other important causes. She spoke out against unfair treatments of people, supported peace around the world, and worked to make sure everyone was treated equally, no matter who they were. She traveled to different places, taught classes, and gave speeches to share her ideas about fairness and justice. She also helped raise money for important projects and supported her friends who were working for positive change. Her strong voice and dedication continue to inspire many people around the world.

Opposition to apartheid

During the 1980s, Coretta Scott King continued to speak out against unfair laws in South Africa that separated people by their race. She took part in protests and traveled to South Africa to show her support for those fighting for equality there.

Peacemaking

Coretta Scott King believed strongly in working for peace. She supported actions that did not use fighting or violence to make changes, and she spoke up against things like harsh punishments and wars.

LGBT equality

Coretta Scott King also supported the idea that everyone, including people who might love others of the same gender, should be treated fairly and with respect. She spoke about how unfair treatments of any group can hurt everyone and encouraged people to include everyone in their efforts for justice.

The King Center

After her husband's passing, Coretta Scott King started The King Center to keep his memory alive and continue his work for justice and peace. She worked to collect his papers and create a place where people could learn about his ideas and efforts. She also faced some challenges, like disagreements over where her husband's papers should be kept, but she kept working to make sure his legacy was honored correctly.

Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom

In 2005, Coretta Scott King allowed her name to be used by her old school, Antioch College, to start a center that helps people learn about and work on issues like fairness for all, treating everyone equally, and making the world a better place for everyone.

Illness and death

Main article: Death and funeral of Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King began having health problems in 2004. She was hospitalized in April 2005 and diagnosed with a heart condition. She later suffered several small strokes and had a mild heart attack in August 2005. After spending time in the hospital, she returned home to continue her recovery.

Sadly, Coretta Scott King passed away in January 2006 in Mexico, where she was receiving special care for her strokes and a serious illness. Her funeral was held in Georgia, and many important leaders attended to honor her memory. She was later buried next to her husband, Martin Luther King Jr., at the King Center.

Family life

Coretta Scott King was married to Martin Luther King Jr., and they had four children: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice. Even though they sometimes disagreed, Coretta supported Martin and helped keep him strong during difficult times. After Martin’s death, Coretta worked hard to honor his memory. She helped create a special day to celebrate his life and worked to build a center in Atlanta to remember him. Her children also grew up to support fair treatment for all people, just like their parents did.

Lawsuits

The King family faced many legal challenges related to the estate of Martin Luther King Jr. They sued an auction house in California in 1992 to get back important documents. In 1994, they settled a case with USA Today for using Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech without permission. In 1996, they also sued CBS for showing parts of the same speech without paying for the rights.

In 1998, Coretta Scott King and her son met with government officials to discuss concerns about the investigation into Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. The King family believed that more than one person was involved in the event and asked the president to create a special group to look into it further.

Legacy

Coretta Scott King worked hard to keep the memory of her husband, Martin Luther King Jr., alive. She created the King Center the year he passed away, which helped honor his life and work. She is also remembered for helping to create a special holiday called Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is now celebrated in all 50 states.

Coretta was known for her kindness and strong spirit. She was friends with other important women, like Jacqueline Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, who also faced sad times. Coretta’s words were important to many, and they were even mentioned in the United States Senate many years later. Her life has been shown in several movies and television shows.

Main article: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Recognition and tributes

Coretta Scott King received many honors for her work. She was given special degrees from famous schools like Princeton University, Duke University, and Bates College. In 1970, a special award named after her was created for excellent African-American writers and illustrators of children's literature. She also received many other awards, including the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2004.

After her death, many people and groups paid tribute to her. Schools, leaders, and organizations showed their respect for her work in making the world a better place. In 2007, a school for girls called The Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy opened in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2023, a special sculpture called The Embrace was unveiled in Boston to honor her and her husband.