Coretta Scott King was born on April 27, 1927, in Marion, Alabama. Before she married Martin Luther King Jr., she was pursuing a degree in voice at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. It was there she met her future husband, and in 1953, they were married. After having four children, the Kings moved to Montgomery, Alabama. This is when Coretta Scott King really became involved in the civil rights movement. Although she is most known for being the wife of Martin Luther King Jr, she did incredible things and continued to fight for justice long after MLK had been assassinated. Though her impact isn’t widely showcased, the work she did continues to live on today.
Black History Month: Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King joined her husband in multiple civil rights protests, like the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. Trying to get the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed was something that the Kings were both fighting for. Unfortunately, most of her notable work comes after the assassination of her husband. Even after the death of her husband, she continued to fight for the civil rights movement and was actively a part of it until she passed away. In Atlanta, she founded the King Center, officially known as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change. She also wrote several memoirs about her life and the love she shared with MLK. On top of that, in 1969 she established an annual Coretta Scott King Award to honor African-American authors of an outstanding text for children.
They live on
Although they both have passed away, all of their efforts live on to this day. The impact that both Kings had on the civil rights movement is a vital part of its success. As a part of Black History Month, it is key to remember that Black History is American History. Taking the time to remember those who inspired millions and fought for what was right is what February should be about.
For more on Martin Luther King Jr., check out this article.
