Introduction
Coretta Scott was born on April 1927 in Perry County, Alabama. Her parents were Obadiah Scott and Bernice McMurry Scott. The family owned a small farm from where they earned their livelihood. Unfortunately, the family was not among the wealthiest families in the region (Academy of Achievement par 1). However, Coretta managed to acquire education up to the university level.
Throughout her life, Coretta had a great thirst for education and music. The development of these interests can be attributed to her mother who played a significant role in her life.
For instance, she learned to play musical instruments at a very young age. She learned how to play music instruments like the trumpet while she was still at school where she sang as a soloist. Coretta’s sister was the first black student to study in Antioch College, Ohio. Coretta met her husband Martin Luther King Jr at Boston University after which they married after sixteen months.
During her lifetime, Coretta spent most of her time fighting and advocating for equality and promotion of un-discriminatory policies across the world. During the Civil Movements of the 1950s and 1960s, Coretta Scott King was among the people who played a pivotal role. During this period, she made a great contribution by encouraging Martin to realize his goals.
She played an important role in consoling and giving advice on the best course of actions. Her encouragement forced Martin to remain focused on his goals. The major contributions made by King’s wife can be clearly seen after the assassination of her husband. This was the time when she took a tough stand in fighting for racial equality and actively being involved in Women’s Movement (Academy of Achievement par 3).
In 1955, Coretta Scott King played a very important role in Montgomery Bus Boycott (McPherson 100). In connection to this, Coretta actively advocated for the civil rights legislation.
In 1962, Coretta made a very important contribution in disbarment efforts when she served as women strike for the peace delegates to the seventeen nations Disbarment Conference held in Geneva. Soon after her husband’s death, Coretta rose to perpetuate the pending work he had already started. She fully devoted her life to King’s work where she continued to help many people until her her death in 2006.
Early Age and Education
Coretta was born in a family of four siblings where she was a third born. She was born together with her two elder sisters Edith and Eunice and a younger brother Obadiah who was born in 1930 (McPherson 69). As already noted, her family had a small farm but they were not among the wealthy people in the community. During her childhood, Coretta Scott King assisted her parents to pick cotton from their small farm.
Although her parents did not go to school, they were totally determined to ensure that their children received the required level of education. In connection to this, they took Coretta to an elementary school that was located far a way from their home. Later, she joined Lincoln Normal school. The school was located very far from their residence. However, Coretta did not have any alternative because it was the only black school in the region.
Coretta was exposed to the social injustices when she was a very young girl where she was forced to face the wrath of a segregated society, that is, the society where the native and the African Americans were treated as two different entities. The society was characterized by a lot of discrimination ranging from education to economic opportunities.
For instance, she was to walk for a long distance to reach the nearest black school while her fellow white students were riding in buses to schools nearby (Gelfand 87). This was one of the factors that triggered Coretta’s urge to fight for the civil rights later in her life. She was determined to dissolve the existing arrangements.
While in college, Coretta studied music; the field in which she was very interested. She was assisted by Walter Anderson, who was the first African to head a department in the institution.
While at school, Coretta was angered by the racial discrimination that was practiced by the school management. Consequently, she was actively involved in civic rights movements. For instance, she was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as well as the Race Relations and Civil liberties Committees (Academy of Achievement par 5).
As it was required by the curriculum, students were usually supposed to perform their second year teaching practice as a partial fulfillment for the award of a certificate. However, Coretta was denied a chance to teach in Yellow Springs Public schools (McPherson 12). Coretta attempted to convince the college administration but in vain.
Some years later, Coretta was forced to move out of Antioch after winning a scholarship award at New England Conservatory Music that was located in Boston. This presented a very good opportunity for her to exploit her talent in singing and playing musical instruments.
Meanwhile, she met Martin Luther King, Jr who was later to become her husband. Martin Luther King Jr was a theology student in the college. During the time, Coretta had become famous in singing because she was already actively involved in civil rights movements. She took advantage of her talent and integrated her singing with civil rights activities. She used it as a tool to meet her goals to fight for equality for both black and white Americans.
Family Life
After meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr, their relationship strengthened and they supported each other in their activities. They shared one interest since they were both interested in civil rights. Both were determined to fight for equality and for the rights of all citizens despite of their color.
In June 1953, Coretta and Martin were married. Their marriage ceremony was led by Martin’s father and it took place at Coretta’s family compound (Academy of Achievement par 4). However, Coretta called for elimination of the vow that required her to promise that she will obey husband. This was a courageous step that was not common by then.
By 1954, Corretta was through with her degree after which together with her husband moved to Alabama (Montgomery). This was where Martin Luther King was going to become a pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church (Academy of Achievement par 8). Soon after landing there, Coretta and her husband joined the Montgomery bus boycott. Meanwhile, Martin was elected as a leader of the movement. This was a major step in their struggle for the civil rights.
Their activity in the modern civil right movements came soon after the event where one of the passengers in a city bus refused to give a seat to a white passenger. According to the city orders, all the white people were to be given priority in the public conveyances. Therefore, this event led to Rosa’s arrest for going against the city orders. Soon after the arrest, the black Americans led by Martin Luther, Jr rose in defense of the lady.
This led to boycotting of the city buses in the regions. This was one of the major steps that Martin and Coretta took in fighting against the social injustices. This particular event attracted the attention of many people across the world on the issue of racial discrimination that was taking place in United States of America. The pressure from the movement led by Martin forced the court to scrap off all the local orders that drew boundaries between the white and the blacks in the public transport.
Coretta was particularly determined to fight for the civil rights. She was ready to commit her whole life for the society. She was determined to fight for the liberty of the oppressed and the marginalized section of the society. This movement had world wide implications and was not only interested in meeting liberation for the local community. It had significant global implication.
After their marriage, Coretta and Martin had four children. These include Martin Luther III, Albertine, Scott, and Denise. However, both Coretta and Martin were engaged in a continued conflict because Martin wanted Coretta to refrain from public involvement with the movement whereas Coretta was more determined to take a public leadership role. This was contrary to Martin’s view who wanted Coretta to spend more time taking care of their four children.
However, they both managed the situation and Coretta continued to pursue her goals to realize equality among the people. Coretta was forced to withdraw from music in order to take care of their children. However, she managed to use poetry and perform in freedom concerts where she used her talent to pass the message and the call for equality. She also used music to tell about the Civil Rights Movements. She performed in many concerts that helped in raising funds for the movement which her husband was leading.
Later in April 1968, Martin King Luther, Jr. was assassinated. This was a major strike for the Human Rights Movements since he was like the pillar. However, Coretta was determined to perpetuate the work that her husband had already started. In connection to this, she built The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in memory of her husband and his work.
It represented his dream and life in the struggle for the human rights. After her husbands’ death, Coretta was not intimidated to continue with her struggle through the Human Rights Movements. In fact, she was directly involved in the causes that her husband had started.
Contribution in the Civil Rights Movements and Equality
From 1960 to 1950s, Coretta made a very significant contribution in the civil rights movements of the time. In fact, Martin Luther King admitted that were it not for the support of her wife, he would not have managed to fulfill his goals in fighting for the liberty of the oppressed fraction of the society.
Corretta was involved in non violent matches and led marches to the city together with her husband. By then, her husband had already become famous in civil rights movement and, therefore, was called to lead marches in different cities (Lohr par 4). In these marches, Coretta played a pivotal role in encouraging both the white and the black to reject the orders that encouraged segregation.
This was not, however, welcomed by the proponents of racism in America. They faced stiff opposition from the leaders who were encouraging racism in the country. As a result, their home was bombed by the white supremacists in 1956 (Academy of Achievement par 9). Coretta and her child narrowly managed to escape from the attack.
Later, Coretta’s fame spread all over the world as the leader of international struggle to break the chains of racial discrimination and other social injustices that takes place in the society. Her contribution had a significant implication throughout the world as a call for human liberation from all forms of oppression including colonialism.
For instance, they travelled to Ghana in 1957 to celebrate the country’s independence (Stanley and Henderson 56). The couple also went to India in honor of Mahatma Gandhi who is widely known for his philosophy of peace. This implies that their interest was not in the national level but across the world. Martin Luther King Jr was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace where he was accompanied by his wife Coretta to receive it. In other words, Coretta played a pivotal role in supporting her husband.
With time, Coretta’s demand as a public speaker increased significantly. She became the first woman to deliver the Class day add tress at Hazard (Academy of Achievement par 10). She was also the first woman to preach at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. She also played a pivotal role in promoting economic equity in America. She was determined in fighting for economic justice in the society. For instance, she formed the Full Employment Action Council whose main agenda was to push for equal economic opportunities.
This council was composed of religious, businesses, labor women and civil rights movements that were committed in promoting equal opportunities and full employment. By then, the white were given privilege in employment opportunities. Some positions were reserved only for the white. For instance, the blacks were not allowed to access top positions even if they had qualified. Coretta used this movement to fight against such discrimination in the society.
During her mission to serve the global human rights, she travelled across different countries including Africa and Latin America. In 1983, she led one of the greatest marches in Washington that included more than 800 human rights organizations (Academy of Achievement par 9). This was the largest demonstration that took place in the city during the time.
Coretta was also actively involved in the campaigns which demanded the establishment of Kings’ birthday as a national holiday. Her campaigns yielded positive results when the January 15 was made a public holiday through the Act of Congress (Academy of Achievement par 6). Since 1986, King’s birthday has been marked as an annual celebration in more than 100 countries.
In 1995, Coretta handed over the leadership of The King Center to her son. However, she remained devoted in the causes of economic and racial justice. She also devoted some effort in AIDS education and preaching against the gun violence.
Coretta also made some significant contribution in promoting LGBT equality. She emphasized that homophobia is like racism and other antisocial forms of discrimination. Her support for gay people was received with a lot of opposition from most of the African-American pastors who were opposed to homosexuality. She argued that such people were not informed and that it was the will of Martin Luther King to promote a world of inclusion and equality.
Coretta’s battle against apartheid intensified in 1980s when she led a series of protests in Washington DC. These efforts were directed against South African racial policies, which were oppressive to the black.
Death
At the age of 77, Coretta began to experience health complications. This led her to being hospitalized in 2005 after deterioration in her condition. Medical results revealed that she had a heart condition. She later suffered frequent strokes and minor heart attack. Consequently, Coretta was forced to cancel a number of her travels. She continued undergoing physiotherapy from home.
Coretta Scott died in January, 2006 from cervical cancer and stroke in Oasis Hospital. She died while undergoing a therapy for his ovarian cancer that was already in its advanced stage by then. Soon after her death, the clinic was shut after being discovered that it was not allowed to perform most of the procedures they were taking by then. Her death is attributed to the respiratory failure that came as a result of cancer.
More than 14, 000 people attended her funeral to pay their last tribute to Coretta. Her funeral ceremony took place at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. This is where her daughter Bernice is a minister. Many former U.S. presidents attended the function including the then President George Bush.
After her death, Coretta was honored as a champion of human rights for dedicating her life to peace and justice (Lohr par 9). Her contribution was recognized since she had opened the way for many. By then, Coretta had managed to dissolve racial discrimination to a greater extent in the United States. Even after her death, Coretta has remained inspirational to many people from all parts of the world.
Conclusion
From this discussion, it is clear that Coretta was among the people who played a major role in fighting for equality across the world. She was exposed to a humiliating form of racial discrimination at a very young age where she suffered from racial segregation. Throughout her life, Coretta was actively involved in Civil Rights’ Movements.
Since her undergraduate studies, Coretta demonstrated concern with the existing arrangements where there was much racial discrimination and other forms of oppression in the society. She was actively involved in marches where she convinced both white and black to defy against all the laws that encouraged segregation in the society. She used her music career in concerts where she narrated about the story of Civil Human Rights Movement.
She also used poetry to pass her message about the need for equality. Before her death in 2006, Coretta had managed to successfully push for significant changes in the United States where the difference between the whites and blacks has significantly decreased. For instance, both the white and the black students can now attend the same schools. People are more differentiated in terms of income rather than their races.
Works Cited
Academy of Achievement. “Coretta Scott King Biography. “achievement.org, 2010. Web.
Gelfand, Dale. Coretta Scott King: Civil Rights Activist. New York: InfoBase Publishing, 2006. Print
Lohr, Kathy. “Coretta Scott King Honored As Civil Rights Champion.” Npr, 2006. Web.
McPherson, Stephanie. Coretta Scott King. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2007. Print
Stanley, George, and Henderson Meryl. Coretta Scott King: First Lady of Civil Rights. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008. Print