Coretta had many reasons for fighting so hard for civil rights. When she was young, she and her siblings had to walk 5 miles every single day to an all black-school while white children rode busses to nearer white schools. In 1945, Coretta Scott King entered Antioch College, an integrated college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, double majoring in music and education. To become a teacher, Antioch required her to become a student teacher first. She was offered a job, but it was at an all-black school Xenia, a town near Yellow Springs, as opposed to at the integrated Yellow Springs local elementary school. In the end, she turned down the job because she refused to be treated differently than a white student teacher. For much of her young life, prejudice plagued Coretta Scott King. But later in her life, she would become a peace soldier in the Civil Rights Movement
During the Civil Rights Movement, Coretta’s husband, Martin Luther King Jr., was more known for contributing to the movement than Coretta was, being an influential leader and orator in the movement. But Coretta was greatly involved in the movement as well. She organized marches, lead rallies, and gave speeches, often in place of her husband. As a talented musician, Coretta often did solo concerts to raise money. Coretta did everything she could to benefit the Civil Rights Movement and worked alongside her husband in her work.
Coretta Scott King was a great contributor of the Civil Rights Movement, working alongside her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. But even after Martin died, Coretta continued to fight for racial equality, carrying out her late husband’s plans standing in his place. She led a march in Memphis planned by her husband as part of his Poor People’s Campaign. More than 50,000 people marched through Memphis in silence to commemorate the once leader of the Campaign. She continued to make speeches and lead marches. That same year, 1968, she spoke at a peace rally in Central Park, New York, using the notes that Martin wrote before his death. Coretta made her husband’s dream reality and lead the Civil Rights Movement to victory.
Coretta Scott King is mainly known for her work with the Civil Rights Movement. However, she did more social justice work after that. In 1974, Coretta Scott King made a great alliance with over 100 organizations, supporting rights from religion to business. Nearly 12 years earlier, she was sent to the Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, as a delegate for the Women’s Strike for Peace. She supported same-sex marriage actively. She was constantly spreading the message of nonviolence. Coretta Scott King was a woman who believed in equality for every human being.
Coretta Scott King accomplished many commendable deeds in her lifetime. Because of her work, she has been given in 1980, she received the UAW Social Justice Award and in 1982, she received the Eugene V. Debs Award, both awards given to a significant person who worked to promote social justice. In her lifetime, Coretta Scott King has received over 40 honorary degrees from many colleges and universities. A literary award was even created in her honor in 1970. The Coretta Scott King Award was created by the American Library Association’s Social Responsibilities Round Table. This award is presented to African American authors and illustrators who have created outstanding books about African-Americans’ experiences. Coretta Scott King has been, and will be, greatly admired for her life achievements.
Living Legacy
Coretta Scott King passed away on January 30, 2006. But her impact on the wold lives on. Coretta founded the King Center, which celebrates her annually. Its CEO is now Dexter Scott King, Coretta and Martin’s younger son. Coretta made her husband’s birthday, January 15th, a national holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. day is on the third Monday of January because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act). Coretta might not be here today, but what she did during her life still affects the world powerfully.