A Remembrance Quiz On Martin Luther King Jr.!

1. Where did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous "I Have a Dream" speech?

Lincoln Monument in Washington, D.C.

Courthouse in Montgomery, Ala.

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga.

On Aug. 28, 1963, the largest protest demonstration in U.S. history was held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. About 250,000 blacks and whites gathered to lobby for congressional passage of sweeping civil rights measures. King thrilled the crowd with his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Explanation

On Aug. 28, 1963, the largest protest demonstration in U.S. history was held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. About 250,000 blacks and whites gathered to lobby for congressional passage of sweeping civil rights measures. King thrilled the crowd with his “I Have A Dream” speech.

2. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. Years later, a portion of the building was incorporated into what in Memphis?

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church

National Civil Rights Museum

Martin Luther King Peace Park

King and his entourage were staying in room 706 of the Lorraine Motel. According to Jesse Jackson, who was present, King’s last words on the balcony prior to his assassination were spoken to musician Ben Branch, who was scheduled to perform that night at an event King was attending: “Ben, make sure you play ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty.”

Explanation

King and his entourage were staying in room 706 of the Lorraine Motel. According to Jesse Jackson, who was present, King’s last words on the balcony prior to his assassination were spoken to musician Ben Branch, who was scheduled to perform that night at an event King was attending: “Ben, make sure you play ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty.”

3. From whom did King draw his principles of non-violent resistance?

Sanjay Gandhi

Indira Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi, commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, is considered the father of the Indian independence movement. He created his concept of satyagraha (devotion to truth), a nonviolent way to protest injustices. Many civil rights leaders, including King used Gandhi’s concept as a model for their own struggles.

Explanation

Mohandas Gandhi, commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, is considered the father of the Indian independence movement. He created his concept of satyagraha (devotion to truth), a nonviolent way to protest injustices. Many civil rights leaders, including King used Gandhi’s concept as a model for their own struggles.

4. What organization named King its "Man of the Year" for 1963?

Time magazine

The Southern Baptist Convention

The United Nations

King was featured on the Jan. 3, 1964, cover of Time magazine as its Man of the Year for 1963.

Explanation

King was featured on the Jan. 3, 1964, cover of Time magazine as its Man of the Year for 1963.

5. Where did Martin Luther King Jr study and receive his doctorate of divinity degree?

Boston University

Harvard Divinity School

Duke Divinity School

He received his Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955. King married Coretta Scott while he was a student at BU.

Explanation

He received his Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955. King married Coretta Scott while he was a student at BU.

6. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for leading nonviolent protest campaigns against discrimination. He was arrested repeatedly, assaulted many times and his home was bombed due to his actions. The FBI kept a massive file on him. What specific incident did the Nobel committee cite in its presentation speech?

Desegregation of Chicago housing

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

Bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala.

The boycott began Dec. 2, 1955, in Montgomery after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person the day before. The boycott lasted 381 days. Negroes and whites finally rode the buses as equals after the Dec. 21, 1956, U.S. Supreme Court ruling declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses and other public accommodations. At 35, King was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004, both for his civil rights work. His wife, Coretta Scott King, was a co-recipient of the Gold Medal.

Explanation

The boycott began Dec. 2, 1955, in Montgomery after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person the day before. The boycott lasted 381 days. Negroes and whites finally rode the buses as equals after the Dec. 21, 1956, U.S. Supreme Court ruling declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses and other public accommodations. At 35, King was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004, both for his civil rights work. His wife, Coretta Scott King, was a co-recipient of the Gold Medal.

7. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech April 3, 1968, at Mason Temple, the Church of God in Christ Headquarters, in Memphis, Tenn. In it, he said: "We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop." Scholars say his speech was foreshadowing what?

The election of an African-American president

His own death

The Civil Rights Act of 1968

King was assassinated the next day, April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. King was 39. The continuation of that evening’s speech is: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” After the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, King had told his wife, Coretta: “This is what is going to happen to me also. I keep telling you, this is a sick society.”

Explanation

King was assassinated the next day, April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. King was 39. The continuation of that evening’s speech is: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” After the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, King had told his wife, Coretta: “This is what is going to happen to me also. I keep telling you, this is a sick society.”

8. In 1983, Congress made the third Monday in January a national holiday in honor of King, who remains the only African-American to be commemorated in this way. When was the first Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observed?

Jan. 21, 1985

Jan. 20, 1986

Jan. 19, 1987

Jan. 20, 1986, was the first observance of the federal holiday. Before the official day, many people, including Omahans, had marked the occasion on the anniversary of his assassination.

Explanation

Jan. 20, 1986, was the first observance of the federal holiday. Before the official day, many people, including Omahans, had marked the occasion on the anniversary of his assassination.

9. King had a number of advisors. Which one of these close advisors, all clergymen like King, went on to be a U.S. Congressman, mayor and United Nations ambassador?

Andrew Young

Ralph Abernathy

Jesse Jackson

Andrew Young was the first African-American that Georgia elected to Congress since Reconstruction. He represented the state’s 5th District. He later also served as mayor of Atlanta and a U.N. ambassador.

Explanation

Andrew Young was the first African-American that Georgia elected to Congress since Reconstruction. He represented the state’s 5th District. He later also served as mayor of Atlanta and a U.N. ambassador.