10 Surprising Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.

This article is based on original reporting by Nik Popli, TIME magazine, January 14, 2024.

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s unwavering commitment to justice and equality shaped the course of American history. Here are ten lesser-known facts about the man who became a symbol of the civil rights movement.

1. He was the first Black person to be named TIME Man of the Year
   In 1963, TIME named King as "Man of the Year," making him the first Black person to receive this honor. “Few can explain the extraordinary King mystique,” TIME wrote. “Yet he has an indescribable capacity for empathy that is the touchstone of leadership.” King considered the recognition a tribute to the entire civil rights movement and praised TIME for featuring a Black person on its cover.

2. MLK improvised part of his "I have a dream" speech
   The powerful "I Have a Dream" section of King's 1963 speech at the March on Washington was almost omitted. Advisors had urged him to avoid the theme, but during his address, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson called out, urging him to "tell ‘em about the dream." King then improvised the iconic section that became a cornerstone of American rhetoric.

3. An assassination attempt affirmed his faith in nonviolence
   In 1958, a decade before his death, King survived an assassination attempt in Harlem. A woman stabbed him in the chest while he was signing copies of his memoir. Despite the close call, King harbored no ill will toward his attacker, reaffirming his commitment to nonviolence.

4. King is the only non-President whose birthday is a national holiday
   The push for a national holiday in King's honor began shortly after his assassination in 1968 but faced resistance. It wasn't until 1983 that President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law. MLK Day was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

5. King started college at 15
   King skipped several grades and was admitted to Morehouse College at just 15. Despite initial reluctance, he followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps into the ministry, later becoming an ordained minister while still an undergrad.

6. The King family paid the hospital bill for Julia Roberts’ birth
   Actress Julia Roberts revealed that the King family covered her parents' hospital expenses when she was born in 1967. The Kings' children had attended Roberts' parents' theater school in Atlanta, leading to a close friendship between the families.

7. King was arrested 30 times
   King was arrested 30 times, often on charges related to his civil rights activities. His arrests were part of a deliberate strategy by authorities to intimidate him and other activists.

8. His family believes James Earl Ray was framed for his assassination
   The King family has long believed that James Earl Ray, convicted of King's assassination, was framed. In 1999, they won a civil suit against the U.S. government, with a jury ruling that King's death was the result of a conspiracy.

9. He was the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
   At 35, King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He donated the prize money to the civil rights movement.

10. He was named after Protestant reformer Martin Luther
    King was born Michael King Jr. but was renamed after his father returned from a trip to Germany, inspired by the Protestant reformer Martin Luther. The name change reflected his father's admiration for Luther's role in religious history.