Honoring Coretta Scott King

Honoring Coretta Scott King

02/10/06

At the passing of Coretta Scott King, our nation is reminded of her active life in the civil rights movement. February is Black History Month, when our nation commemorates the heritage of African Americans. Thus, this is a timely occasion to recognize Mrs. King, "the first lady of human and civil rights." In honor of Mrs. King's leadership, I was pleased to co-sponsor H.RES. 655, a congressional resolution that honors her civil rights work and sends condolences to the King family as they mourn her passing. H.RES. 655 passed the House with my support.

Growing up in Alabama, Mrs. King witnessed the ills of racism and segregation, but her hard work and perseverance empowered her to succeed. After graduating valedictorian of her high school class, Mrs. King received a scholarship to Antioch College and moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio. Following her undergraduate work, Mrs. King was awarded a scholarship to study music in Boston, Massachusetts. In Boston she met her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King and Coretta were married on June 18, 1953 and moved to Montgomery, Alabama when Martin Luther accepted the pastorate of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus. Dr. King responded by leading a boycott of the segregated city bus system. Dr. King quickly became a visible and strong leader in the civil rights movement. Mrs. King was actively engaged in the pursuit of justice and equality through the civil rights movement with her husband, while raising their four children.

After the assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968, Mrs. King remained strongly committed to the civil rights cause. Mrs. King continued to pursue the vision of her husband and made a tremendous contribution in the United States and around the world with her persistent devotion to peaceful change. One of Mrs. King's greatest accomplishments was her founding of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. The King Center opened in 1981. The 23-acre national historic site is home to Dr. King's birthplace and includes The King Center Library and Archives, the greatest collection of civil rights era documents. The Center provides seminars, workshops, and training programs about Dr. King's belief in the human dignity of all people to tens of thousands of educators and other leaders. The Center also welcomes one million visitors annually.

Two years following the opening of the King Center, Mrs. King led the 20th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. The 1983 March included over 800 human rights organizations that comprised the Coalition of the Conscience, the largest gathering to have occurred in Washington at that time.

Mrs. King also strongly advocated making January 15th, Dr. King's birthday, a federal holiday. In 1986, Congress established the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. Due to Mrs. King's vision and leadership, Martin Luther King Day is now celebrated in over 100 countries.

Mrs. King's commitment to nonviolent civil rights work propelled her into countless advocacy roles. Mrs. King's work has extended throughout the world to Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Having earned worldwide influence, Mrs. King was provided the opportunity to speak with numerous presidents, prime ministers, and religious leaders. She was also the first woman to provide the Class Day address at Harvard University and the first woman to preach at St. Paul's Cathedral in London for a statutory service. Over 60 secondary educational institutions have awarded Mrs. King honorary doctorates. Also, Mrs. King helped found and serve in dozens of organizations including the Black Leadership Forum, the National Black Coalition for Voter Participation, and the Black Leadership Roundtable.

Mrs. King's strength and compassion in her pursuit of justice and equality provide inspiration for our nation.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/2.10.06.shtml