What is the name of the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Coretta Scott King was the influential wife of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Born Coretta Scott in Alabama in 1927, she was a talented musician and dedicated activist in her own right long before her marriage. She earned degrees in music and education from Antioch College and the New England Conservatory of Music, where she met Martin Luther King, Jr. in Boston. Their partnership became central to the American Civil Rights Movement, with Coretta often at his side, enduring threats and supporting their four children while he traveled and led protests.

Beyond her role as a supportive spouse, Coretta Scott King was a powerful voice for peace and justice. She organized and performed "Freedom Concerts" to raise funds for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and spoke at numerous rallies, including serving as a delegate to the 17-nation Disarmament Conference in Geneva in 1962. She was also a vocal critic of the Vietnam War and openly addressed the sexism within the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for women's roles.

After Dr. King's assassination in 1968, Coretta Scott King continued his work with unwavering determination. Just days after his death, she led a march in Memphis on behalf of sanitation workers, demonstrating her commitment to the cause. She founded The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) to preserve his legacy and promote his philosophy of nonviolence. Her tireless efforts were instrumental in establishing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national holiday, a goal she achieved in 1983.

Coretta Scott King remained a prominent figure in human rights, expanding her activism to include LGBTQ+ rights and opposition to apartheid in South Africa, even being arrested in a protest at the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C. She consulted with world leaders and continued to speak globally on issues of racism, economic injustice, and peace until her passing in 2006. Her legacy is not only as the wife of a great leader but as an influential activist who shaped the course of civil rights and global human rights.