Martin Luther King, Jr.
(01/15/1929 - 04/04/1968)
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. married Coretta Scott on June 18, 1953.
He and his wife were parents to four children: Yolanda, MLK, III, Dexter, and Bernice.
President Ronald Reagan signed the Martin Luther King Day holiday into law in 1983, and it was observed three (3) years later.
Over 700 streets in the United States are named after Martin Luther King, Jr., one in almost every major city.
In 1957, then 28-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the commencement speech to graduates at Kentucky State University in Frankfort.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most influential trip to Kentucky was in March 1964 when he led the March on Frankfort. He was the featured speaker where an estimated 10,000 people gathered in a peaceful protest for civil rights.
Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Louisville several times while his brother, A.D. King, was pastor of Zion Baptist church in the 1960s.

Credits: KYStateArchives - Youtube Channel
On January 27th, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act.
Kentucky Governor Edward (Ned) T. Breathitt, Jr., signing the KY Civil Rights bill on January 27, 1966.
This legislation made Kentucky the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to enact its own civil rights law, a bold move that distinguished the Commonwealth during a time of intense national struggle for racial equality. The Act was enforced by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR).

Credits: KYStateArchives - Youtube Channel
Meaning for Kentuckians
For Kentuckians, the passage of the Act represented a turning point in the fight against racial segregation and discrimination. It outlawed discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, ensuring that marginalized groups could access opportunities previously denied. The law also gave citizens a formal mechanism to file complaints and seek justice through KCHR, fostering a sense of empowerment and accountability.
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. praised the law, calling it a “milestone for a southern state".