I bet you did not know all of these 10 MLK Jr. (Day) facts… or maybe you did

Martin Luther King Jr. is still one of the most influential activists of all time to this very day. But I’m sure even those who know about Dr. King could still learn a thing or two about him. That’s why we’ve got 10 facts about Martin Luther King Jr., including some MLK Day facts regarding the holiday we celebrate him on.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of three historical figures with a day honoring him – He’s also just one of two Americans that have a day honoring him. President George Washington is the other American historical figure with a day honoring him. Meanwhile, Christopher Columbus is the third historical figure overall.
2. He was born Michael – Martin Luther King Jr. was born Michael Luther King Jr. That was until his father traveled to Germany and was inspired by the famous Martin Luther. At just five years old, Michael’s name was changed to Martin.
3. Dr. King’s racial justice passion began from a young age – While it is hard to know exactly when his passion truly started, Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate against racial injustice. You could say his parents probably knew he would become an activist pretty much right from the get-go.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed more than 20 times – While a lot of these arrests are said to be bogus, it’s still crazy to think about. This did not stop him from speaking his truth though and standing up for what he believed in.
5. Martin Luther King met his wife over the phone – Who says this is a new-age technique of meeting someone? The first time MLK ever talked to his wife was on the phone after their friend said they’d be right for each other. That definitely proved to be true.
6. MLK survived death before being assassinated – About a decade before his actual assassination, someone tried to assassinate Dr. King once before. Luckily he came out of that unscathed and had a lot more fight left in him after that attempt.
7. It did not take long for MLK Jr. Day to become official – In fact, it was only 15 years after he was assassinated that people were pushing for MLK Day. President John F. Kennedy declared Martin Luther King Jr. Day a holiday in the 80s. Then, in the early 2000s, it officially became a federal holiday.
8. MLK foretold his death – In fact, it was during his speech the day before he was assassinated. Essentially, he said he was not scared to die and see what was in store for him in the afterlife.
9. Martin Luther King Jr. questioned his faith – The renowned activist and minister did not always hold the beliefs he had later in life. In his teens he constantly caught himself questioning what was true and what was not. When he got to college, however, the questions died down and he decided he wanted to become a minister.
10. MLK Jr. received some 20-plus degrees – On top of receiving three academic degrees, the esteemed Dr. King also received 18-plus honorary degrees. On top of that, he received a world of awards, including a Nobel Peace Prize. Wow!

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was certainly never afraid to stand up for himself and for his people, and for that we are getting ready to celebrate MLK Day. He was one-of-a-kind and this world would look a little different had he not become the man he did.