Early Life and Education

- MLK Jr. noticed from a very young age how he and other Black people were treated. They had to sit at the back of buses, away from White passengers, were instructed to use separate toilets, and were often spoken to in an offensive manner.

- At the age of 15, MLK Jr. won a place at Atlanta’s prestigious HBCU, Morehouse College.

- It was also at 15 that MLK Jr. realised he had a reading age of an 11-year-old due to poor education at previous schools.

- Morehouse College President Dr Benjamin E. Mays and School of Religion Director Professor George D. Kelsey mentored a young MLK, helping him connect biblical stories of struggle and salvation to the experiences of Black people in the present day.

- In 1947, MLK Sr. tasked an 18-year-old MLK Jr. with delivering a trial sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The congregation was impressed, leading MLK Sr. to ordain him as a Baptist preacher on February 25th, 1948.

- In spring 1948, MLK Jr. graduated from Morehouse College.