Martin Luther King, III

President and CEO of the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, III is carrying the torch lit by his late father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into the 21st Century. Martin, III's dedication to creating and implementing strategic nonviolent action to rid the world of social, political and economic injustice has propelled him to the forefront as one of the nation's most ardent advocates for the poor, the oppressed and the disillusioned. Utilizing the principles of Kingian nonviolence, Martin Luther King III quietly exercised persuasion and perseverance to reach a compromise between Georgia legislators and leaders to change the state's flag which was an offensive and divisive symbol for many Georgians. In the 1980's, Martin Luther King III was incarcerated for protesting against injustices in South Africa and for the freedom of Nelson Mandela. Mr. King continued his fight for justice throughout the 1990's by addressing the moral and political dilemmas of Haiti, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. He has led protests against the prejudicial "digital divide in the field of technology," has spoken to the United Nations on behalf of individuals living with the challenges of AIDS, and has proactively confronted racial profiling by conducting hearings that led to the passage of anti-racial profiling resolutions. Martin Luther King, III was born in Montgomery, Alabama, the second oldest of four children of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. He received his degree from Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia, and was nurtured among individuals deeply committed to the struggle for human rights and a nonviolent society. Mr. King has assimilated and utilized those values in his personal and public life. Mr. King's experiences as the former President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and as a committed son of the civil rights movement give him a unique perspective concerning the problems facing our nation and the world. Martin Luther King, III is deeply honored to serve as an ambassador of his father's legacy.