Coretta Scott King

Hello! My name is Coretta Scott King. I was born on April 27th, 1927, in a small town called Heiberger, Alabama. I grew up on my family's farm with my wonderful parents, Obadiah and Bernice. Life on the farm meant we all worked hard. I spent many days picking cotton and helping in our garden. But we also had fun and shared a lot of love. My parents always told me how important it was to get a good education, so I worked very hard in school. Even when I was a little girl, I could see that some things in the world were not fair for everyone. Still, I always believed in the power of being kind and standing up for what is right.

I have always loved music, especially singing. When I sang, my heart felt happy and full! I practiced all the time to make my voice strong and beautiful. In 1951, my hard work paid off, and I was able to go to a special music school all the way in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a new and exciting adventure for me. The very next year, in 1952, I met a kind and brilliant man named Martin Luther King Jr. He had a big dream to make the world a better and fairer place for all people. We fell in love, and on June 18th, 1953, we were married. I knew that by his side, I could help make his wonderful dream come true for everyone.

After we were married, Martin and I moved to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1954. We started our family there and soon had four amazing children. At the same time, we began our life's work together, fighting for civil rights. This was a big and important job. It meant we were working to make sure that all people, no matter what their skin color was, were treated with equality and respect. I wanted to help in a special way, so I used my singing voice. I traveled and gave special concerts called Freedom Concerts. Through my songs, I could share our message of hope and raise money to support our work, like during the Montgomery Bus Boycott which started in 1955.

In 1968, a very sad thing happened, and my dear husband, Martin, was lost to the world. My heart was broken, but I knew I had to be strong for my children and for the dream we shared. I made a promise that I would keep our important work going. I traveled all over the world, speaking to leaders and to children about peace, justice, and fairness. I also worked for many, many years to have my husband’s birthday celebrated as a special day for everyone in our country. In 1983, that dream came true, and it became a national holiday to help everyone remember his powerful message of love and equality.

To make sure people would never forget my husband's ideas for a peaceful world, I started a special place called The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1968. I lived to be 78 years old, and I spent my whole life sharing a message of hope. Today, people remember me not just as a wife and mother, but as a singer and a leader who never, ever gave up on the dream of a world where everyone is treated with kindness, justice, and love.