Martin Luther King III on Growing Up Without His Iconic Dad, How He Had to 'Emerge from My Father's Vast Shadow'

Mar. 15, 2025

Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957 (left) and Martin Luther King III in 2009.Photo: Walter Bennett/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock; Justin Sullivan/Getty

In 2022, Martin Luther King III, the son of the legendary slain civil rights activistMartin Luther King Jr., talked to PEOPLE about what it was like spending the first 10 years of his life living in the same house as the man who inspired so many people of all races around the world.

“He was like our little buddy, like our playmate,” recalled Martin III, who was the second of Martin Jr. and his wifeCoretta Scott King’s four children. “I remember one time, him coming up the steps as we looked out of the window to see him. It was amazing to see the transformation. As he was coming up the stairs, he seemed to be pulling 100-lb. iron weights on his legs.”

From left: Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr., Yolanda King and Coretta Scott King in 1960..Donald Uhrbrock/Getty

“He was exhausted,” King III continued. “But as soon as he saw us, an exhilaration came over him, because we were so excited to see him: ‘Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!’ When he got to the top of the stairs and the door was open, a renewed energy came across him.”

King III explores his father’s legacy and his own (which is a work in progress) in the new bookWhat Is My Legacy?: Realizing a New Dream of Connection, Love and Fulfillment(Flashpoint). It’s a collaboration with his wife, Arndrea Waters King, and their fellow human-rights activists Mark and Craig Kielburger.

In the excerpt below, King III, 67, discusses living under the shadow of his father’s enormous legend, and how he’s managed to push himself out from under the weight of it, honoring the path of his father while forging one of his own.

‘What Is My Legacy?: Realizing a New Dream of Connection, Love and Fulfillment’.Flashpoint

Flashpoint

On August 28, 1963, in front of a crowd of nearly 250,000 people spread across the National Mall in Washington, DC, my father, the Baptist preacher and civil rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. That speech now stands out as one of the twentieth century’s most unforgettable moments and celebrated speeches.

From left: Martin Luther King Jr., Yolanda King and Martin Luther King III in 1964.Hulton Archive/Getty

I was five at the time, too young to attend. Instead, I stayed at home in Atlanta. But I have since listened to his dream many times over the years. Every time, it brings tears to my eyes. His message of hope is something that I’ve continued to share throughout my life. My father’s dream is not just a speech he gave or an idyllic view of what could be. His dream is something we must all choose each day to work toward. What my father was asking for all those years ago was to create a world where every person can realize their dreams. That is something I also want for each of us. My father’s dream remains unfulfilled, but it is still very much alive.

After leading the March on Washington, he went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the youngest person awarded the honor at that time. Then when I was ten years old, in 1968, my father was assassinated. He was frozen in time at the height of his influence as a vital, passionate civil rights leader who has inspired millions of people to take nonviolent action for peace and social justice.

My dad will always be larger than life. And for me, the struggle of my life has been, first and foremost, growing up without him. As a boy, I longed to shoot hoops, wrestle, and ride bikes with my dad, as we used to do before he was killed. As a man, I wish he’d seen me graduate from college, marry the love of my life, the incredible Arndrea Waters King, and raise a fierce daughter—his only grandchild—Yolanda Renee King, with his oratory gifts running through her veins.

From left: Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr. and Yolanda King.Marvin Koner/Corbis/Getty

My mom, the incomparable Coretta Scott King, who died in 2006, would sometimes tell me, “Your father would be so proud of you.” This would bring tears to my eyes. I would almost melt into the moment, wanting so badly to hear those very words from his mouth and feel the warmth of his approval.

As you can imagine, I have thought more about legacy than most people. My father passed a huge legacy to me, and so did my mother — combating hate, racism, violence and poverty while trying to build the Beloved Community with room for us all. An important part of my life has been furthering their work. What a great honor it is to pursue this mission, in the hopes that my efforts — on the wings of their legacy — will help create a better world.

While there were times in my life when I lived in the shadow of my father’s legacy, the truth is that inheriting my father’s name and legacy has been a privilege and a deep honor. So, in answer to the question “Have I done enough?” the answer can only be “There is so much more to be done.”

source: people.com