Martin Luther King Jr. Trivia

1. What obstacles did King face as a civil-rights leader?

His home was bombed.

He was arrested upwards of 20 times.

He was assaulted at least four times.

All of the above.

Despite these hardships, King stayed the course. In the 11-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled more than 6 million miles and spoke more than 2,500 times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest and action; meanwhile, he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. He led numerous protests, was awarded five honorary degrees, was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Explanation

Despite these hardships, King stayed the course. In the 11-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled more than 6 million miles and spoke more than 2,500 times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest and action; meanwhile, he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. He led numerous protests, was awarded five honorary degrees, was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

2. In what city did King deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech?

Birmingham

Atlanta

New York

Washington, D.C.

King delivered the speech on Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington.

Explanation

King delivered the speech on Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington.

3. King became only the second American whose birthday is observed as a national holiday.

True

False

The first was George Washington. Congress passed the federal holiday honoring King in 1983. It is celebrated on the third Monday in January. King's actual birthday is Jan. 15.

Explanation

The first was George Washington. Congress passed the federal holiday honoring King in 1983. It is celebrated on the third Monday in January. King's actual birthday is Jan. 15.

4. In what year did Martin Luther King Jr. win the Nobel Peace Prize?

1963

1964

1965

1966

At the age of 35, King was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil-rights movement.

Explanation

At the age of 35, King was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil-rights movement.

5. When was King assassinated?

April 4, 1968

April 4, 1969

Aug. 12, 1968

Aug. 12, 1969

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tenn., where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, King, 39, was assassinated. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. Ray later recanted but investigators did not reopen the case. A special U.S. House of Representatives committee determined Ray likely was aided by others. Ray died in 1998.

Explanation

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tenn., where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, King, 39, was assassinated. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. Ray later recanted but investigators did not reopen the case. A special U.S. House of Representatives committee determined Ray likely was aided by others. Ray died in 1998.

6. What organization did King help found in 1957?

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

United Nations

American Civil Liberties Union

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

King gathered with other civil-rights leaders in Atlanta Jan. 10-11, 1957, to found the SCLC. He was elected president of the organization. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity, its operational techniques from Gandhi. The NAACP was founded in 1909; King was, however, a member of the executive committee of the NAACP in the 1950s. The ACLU was founded in 1920. The UN officially came into existence in 1945.

Explanation

King gathered with other civil-rights leaders in Atlanta Jan. 10-11, 1957, to found the SCLC. He was elected president of the organization. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity, its operational techniques from Gandhi. The NAACP was founded in 1909; King was, however, a member of the executive committee of the NAACP in the 1950s. The ACLU was founded in 1920. The UN officially came into existence in 1945.

7. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, had three children.

True

False

The Kings had four children: Yolanda, Dexter, Martin and Bernice.

Explanation

The Kings had four children: Yolanda, Dexter, Martin and Bernice.

8. How old was King when he went to college?

15

16

17

18

In high school King did so well that he skipped both the 9th and 12th grades. At the age of 15, he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Explanation

In high school King did so well that he skipped both the 9th and 12th grades. At the age of 15, he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta.

9. When was the Civil Rights Act banning discrimination because of a person's color, race, national origin, religion or sex passed?

1963

1964

1965

1966

King led the March on Washington in 1963 to urge Congress to pass the bill proposed by President John F. Kennedy. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed shortly after.

Explanation

King led the March on Washington in 1963 to urge Congress to pass the bill proposed by President John F. Kennedy. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed shortly after.