Many know Coretta Scott King to be the wife of Martin Luther King Jr.- one of the most influential civil rights activists ever. However, what most do not know is the story of his wife, Coretta Scott King, and her fight for all people, peace, and one whose bravery should be recognized for many more years to come. When speaking she said, “I am made to sound like an attachment to a vacuum cleaner,....the wife of Martin, then the widow of Martin, all of which I was proud to be. But I was never just a wife, nor a widow. I was always much more than a label.”- and to that she truly was. Early Life: Coretta Scott King was born on April 27, 1927, in Marion, Alabama. She was an exceptional student and graduated valedictorian from Lincoln High School. This was one of the greatest accomplishments of Coretta’s young life- considering the fact that her entire childhood she experienced and fought against racial prejudice/ violence- at 15 years old, Coretta Scott King’s name as well as her father's sawmill were burned down by white supremacists. This act of violence left a long-lasting impact on Coretta and she was determined to do something about it. …show more content…
Flags flew at half mast, and by then everyone had heard Coretta Scott King’s “voice”. Her story inspiring, yet her fight for all people and peace even more impressive. Scott King’s efforts in not just the Civil Rights movement, but for all, in general, has impacted so people and their lives. As an article in the New Lady stated, “Women have been the backbone of the whole Civil Rights movement...Women have been the ones who have made it possible for the movement to be a mass movement.” Scott King carried the Civil Rights movement on her shoulders and used her voice to help, guide, comfort, and inspire others during this trying time. Coretta Scott King has made herself known as a prominent activist and her legacy should be remembered and continued for generations and generations to