Life

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Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, GeorgiaJanuary 15, 1929. His father was a minister and his mother was a teacher. Hehad an older sister, Willie Christine, and a younger brother, Alfred Daniel. Helearned early in his life that because of his skin many things were closed tohim. Like else where in the United States, Atlanta had white only signs allover the city. When he was six years old he was told that some of his friendscould not play with him any more because they were white and he was black. Thisupset him greatly and he could not understand why the color of your skinmatters. His family told him that he was as good as anyone.

Oncewhen he and Alfred Daniel were sliding down the banister at his house Alfredhit their grandmother. Martin thought they had killed her and jumped out of hiswindow to the ground 12 feet below but landed safely and was revitalized whenhe saw that his grandmother was completely unharmed. When Martin was 12 hisgrandmother died of a heart attack. He responded by jumping out the windowagain. Like the first time he remained physically unharmed.

Martin was a good student and by the time he was 15he was in college. He met Coretta Scott in Boston, and in June 18, 1953 hemarried her. He had 4 children, Yolanda (1955), Martin Luther III (1957),Dexter (1962), and Bernice (1963).

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