Coretta Scott King
- Born:
- April 27, 1927, Heiberger, Alabama, USA
- Died:
- January 30, 2006, Rosary, Georgia, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Author, Activist, Civil Rights Leader
Early Life and Education
- Born to Bernice McMurry Scott and Obadiah Scott, Sr. on their family farm in rural Alabama.
- Valedictorian of her graduating class at Lincoln High School in Marion, Alabama.
- Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and education from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
- Studied voice and violin at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she met Martin Luther King Jr.
Career and Major Achievements
- Active participant in the Civil Rights Movement alongside her husband, Martin Luther King Jr.
- Following her husband's assassination, dedicated her life to preserving his legacy and promoting nonviolent social change.
- Founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Successfully campaigned for the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
- Traveled extensively, speaking on issues of peace, justice, and equality.
Notable Works
- My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. (1969), autobiography.
- Served as editor of The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1983).
Legacy and Impact
Coretta Scott King was a pivotal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. Her unwavering commitment to nonviolence, coupled with her tireless advocacy for justice and equality, cemented her place as one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Even a biographical work titled 'charles darwin children's biography of coretta' would be insufficient to cover her full impact and scope.