Facts For Kids

Tag: United States

  • Barack Obama Facts For Kids | The First African-American US President

    Barack Obama Facts For Kids | The First African-American US President

    On November 4th, 2008 American culture would change forever. History was made Barack Hussein Obama, was elected as the first African-American president of the United States. People of all ages & races cheered as an African-American man was elected president of a country known to have a history of racism & prejudice. Barack Obama & the country doubted that he would be elected, he himself even had two speeches ready, one if he won & one if he lost. It wasn’t just an achievement for himself, but an achievement for the White house, putting the first African-American family ever, in the “Executive Mansion”, another phrase for the White House. Michelle, Malia & Sasha now called 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, home. We have gathered some really interesting Barack Obama facts for kids that will give your further more in sights about Barack Hussein Obama.

    Barack Obama Facts For Kids

    Obama’s Birthplace

    Barack Obama II, was born on August 4, 1961 in Oahu, Hawaii at Kapiolani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital to a Caucasian mother & a Kenyan father; Barack & Ann. The birthplace of Obama would later be questioned. It’s been said his birth records are false & corrupted. Obama’s parents divorced when he was a young age, his father moved to Kenya where he was killed in a car accident. His mother married a man named Lolo Soetoro, he was a student from the University of Hawaii he then took Barack & his mother Ann to live in Indonesia.

    Obama’s School and University

    Obama went to Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Jakarta, where he learned Catholicism. He also went to Muslim schools in addition to Catholic schools and churches. Ann, his mother, was concerned that he wasn’t getting the proper education so she sent him back to Hawaii to study & live with his grandparents. Tamar Dunham his grandmother put him in a prestigious K-12th grades school, Punahou School. After divorcing her husband Ann eventually went back to Hawaii where she majored her studies in cultural anthropology. For field research she eventually went back to Indonesia. Obama attended Occidental College in Los Angeles for 4 semesters & then went to New York to attend Columbia University. He earned his degree in law at the University of Harvard.

    Obama Struggles in his Initial years

    Obama went through many shocking encounters & experiences. During his teenage years, he experienced with drugs & alcohol, including marijuana and cocaine. Many of his friends confessed about how he was going through a rough patch in life, and used drugs as a reliever. His grandmother and grandfather didn’t approve or believe in the use of drugs, and thus making him frowned upon amongst the inner family. His grandmother Tamar was still very supportive of him. Later in his career he is heard talking about how close he was with her and how he was devastated about her death a day before the presidential election in 2008. His grandparents didn’t raise him to be religious. They were both very big none believers.

    Growing up in a very diverse state as Hawaii was, there was almost no African American population, and he felt as if he had no one to bond with that saw the world in his eyes. His mother’s parents were both white. Wanting to live life in America as a “black man”, he knew he couldn’t achieve the type of life he thought he wanted to lead if he stayed in Hawaii. In Los Angeles his outlook on life changed he became a Christian & did well in school. Obama went to Chicago meeting Michelle in 1989 at a law firm he was interning at.

    There are many interesting facts about Obama that only a few people know. Growing up at a young age he was known as Barry short for Barack. He was also known as O’Bomber in high school for his skill on the school basketball team. His first job was at a Baskin Robbins ice cream store, after working there he hates the taste of any kind of ice cream. He has a terrible addiction to cigarettes, but tries to battle it with nicotine gum. Ann Dunham passed away in 1989. His favorite snacks are chocolate-peanut protein bars. He loves to collect comic books & likes ready Moby Dick. He speaks Spanish & Indonesian.

    Obama and Michelle went on a first date to go see Spike Lee’s movie “Do the Right Thing”. He went to go back to Kenya to get in touch with his Muslim culture, he has statue of a hand holding an egg symbolizing the fragility of life. Before he met Michelle he dated plenty of white women, he told his white girlfriend that he couldn’t marry a white girl because he knew if he wanted to have a career in politics he had to marry a black woman.

    The Black Student’s Union of Occidental College was a major part in the development of Obama’s views of “black America”. He donates $25000 a year to the Negro College. He is responsible for the murder for Osama Bin Laden, the United States’ national enemy. At the 2002 Democratic Convention he wasn’t allowed in due to suspicion. He has two Grammy awards for his voice overs.

    Barack Obama Facts For Kids – Before Being a President

    Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983 with a major in political science, then he went to go work as an advocate for poor people in Chicago, also he was a community organizer for a Catholic charitable organization also in Chicago. After working with the poor and needy, he went to Harvard Law School to get a law degree where he obtained his law degree graduating with academic honors. After having experience with law from being an attorney at a law firm, he became a Civil Rights lawyer, then he became a professor of law at the University of Chicago. During all this time in Chicago he was spending a lot of time socializing and dating with Michelle Obama, then known as Michelle Robinson. Obama was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, this is where he got the ideals to become the senator of Illinois and the president of the United States. Before getting into politics he was a bestselling author. Fun fact unknown about him was that he was able to do all of this while still smoking marijuana.

    Barrack Obama Facts for Kids – As a President

    Throughout Barack Obama’s presidential career he has had his achievements and his failures. The United States’ had problems with health care & the economy before Obama came into office. His major reforms include:

    • Health Care Reform
    • Creating universal health insurance
    • He ended the war between the United States and Iraq
    • Slowed down the war in Afghanistan
    • Changed the economy by recapitalizing banks
    • Eliminated Moammar Gaddafi
    • Improved college fun for low income students
    • Passed a economic stimulus package
    • Won a Noble Peace Prize in 2009 for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”
    • Provided more coverage for children’s health insurance; improved relations between many countries abroad
    • Made the United States more fuel efficient
    • Provided jobs for veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan after signing the Veterans Skills Jobs Act on July 12, 2012
    • Appointed the first female Latina woman to the U.S Supreme Court, making history
    • Stopped the making of the F-22 which cost over $38 million dollars to make
    • Provided more protection for wilderness and watershed
    • Invested in renewable resources and technology
    • Improved school meals and nutrition
    • He got rid of former president George Bush’s torture policies
    • Gave equal opportunity to Native Americans to have a say and a metaphorical seat in politics
    • Changed the United States’ budget.

    These are just some of the things that he has accomplished while spending time in the White House. Barack Obama led a very unusual life from what you would expect from a United States politician.

    Do you know any thing more about Barack Obama? Share it with us in the comments below. Share these Barack Obama Facts For Kids with your friends and family.

  • Hawaii Facts for Kids | The only U.S. State of Islands

    Hawaii Facts for Kids | The only U.S. State of Islands

    The “Hawaiian Island” or “the Big Island” is just a synonym for the canvas of nature where you could easily reveal hidden secrets of nature. Just scroll down for Hawaii facts for kids if you wish to be informed about the beautiful as well as scary facts for the still expanding island, Hawaii.

    This won’t be an exaggeration to call Hawaii a perfect combination of fire and ice representing beauty and adventure together as a platform.

    Hawaii Facts For Kids

    Making of  the Hawaii island

    This piece of land was formed in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean due to the formation of a volcanic hot spot in the region.

    The series of Hawaiian Island is made up of 132 such small islands, enclaves, coral reefs, shallow banks, sand banks and seamounts spreading over 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) from the territory in the southeast to Kure Atoll in the northwest.

    As we know that these islands are an extraordinary outcome of volcanic eruptions from a sequence of five volcanoes. It’s also notable that the Hawaii Island is the youngest and biggest of all the islands formed in the series of the volcanic islands.

    The island even accounts for being the bearer of the largest volcano on the earth_ “Shield Volcano”.

    The terrestrial tremors

    The island has dealt with many earthquakes due to the presence of volcanoes.

    During 1833 to 1896, there were near about 4 to 5 earthquakes arrived every year.

    Hawaii is rated for 7.3% of the United States’ realized earthquakes with an enormity of 3.5 or greater from 1974 to 2003, making it a huge figure of 1533 earthquakes.

    After Alaska and California, Hawaii stands s third in the list of accounting most earthquakes during the time interval.

    Tsunami! Tsunami! Tsunami!

    The great waves that strike the shore or you may call it tsunami is another scary truth of the beautiful island.

    The topographical conditions and frequent visiting earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean make welcome the demonic waves.

    Flora and fauna of Hawaii

    Most of the found species of plant and animal kingdom are endemic in nature and have been in isolation over 70 million years. Example: koa tree and the yellow hibiscus.

    In the north western island, rare Hawaiian monk seals breed. With an alarming number of 15000 left throughout the globe you won’t find them longing for the beach but they have been spotted on the shores of Kauai in recent years.

    Weather of Hawaii

    Tropical climate prevails most of the time on the island while it receives much of its rainfall from the “trade winds”  as a result of mountainous precipitations on the north and east flanks.

    The period between Julys to November witness the harsh tropical storms and the hurricanes.

    Satisfying your taste buds – Food in Hawaii

    We can observe a perfect blending of different varieties of cuisine brought by immigrants mainly Japaneses, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Filipino, and Polynesian origin.

    Beef, seafood, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and rice are considered as ethnic food items.

    Poke is a famous eatable and an important local origination by conserving raw fish with sea salt.

    Blue Hawaii and Mai-Tai is few Hawaiian cocktails making full use of rum.

    History of Hawaii – Hawaii Facts for Kids

    Phases of early Polynesian settlement mark the history of Hawaii.

    Polynesians, as expected from the Marquesas Islands, appeared in Hawaii during 200-500.

    In 1778, English explorer Captain James Cook harboured at Waimea Bay near Kauai. He mentioned the islands “the Sandwich Islands” honouring Britain’s Earl of Sandwich.

    It was only in 1795 that the savage soldier Kamehameha I subdued many of the islands and established the Hawaiian monarchy. He died in 1819 and his son Kamehameha II becomes the monarch.

    On 22nd February 1900 the Hawaiian Islands became a US territory.

    People of Hawaii

    Hawaiian people are considered to be highly talented and so make a significant mark on world celebrity list.

    To name a few are Bruno Mars, Grammy winning R&B singer, Barack Obama who is the 44th president of the United States and several others including Nicole Mary Kidman an award winning actress.

    These people are not only talented but also posses a highly diversified culture.

    Language, art, music, cuisine, film, theatre, dance and a broad spectrum of festivals are a reflection of the rich heritage.

    Best places to visit in Hawaii

    It’s a very much familiar fact that the Hawaiian Islands are highly cherished tourist attraction on the globe.

    The natural beauty of “super nice” and potential of marine tourism make it quite famous in different corners of the world. This place is often featured in movies and television and is no less than a paradise for tourists.

    Situated on the Big Island, the Pu `uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park accounts 182-acre park full of  reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian and  Archaeological sites ,” Place of Refuge “. This blessed site was once the domain of Hawaiian royalty and defeated military or a place of refuge for Those WHO disobeyed a kapu (ancient Hawaiian law).

    This place also offers you a chance to discover a collection of endangered species and rainforest animals – spider monkeys, lemurs, Nene geese are just to name a few. Go troll the zoo and gift shop for one-of-a-kind remembrance. Panaewa Rainforest Zoo is also reckoned a botanical garden. Everyday it is open and fortunately the entry is free.

    At this tourist attractions area you can comfortably swim in the crystal clear pool at Waihi as it lit the blazing sun. But not only that you can do several other things such as get acquainted with 36 main botanical assemblage. By going to see the Waimea Valley Audubon Center spotted in the beautiful Waimea Valley along with your near and dear ones will surely have a great encounter.

    Last but not the least, Diamond Head State Monument is quite popular tourist attractions in the southeast region of Hawaii. There you can discover a diamond in the pitch of the crater in the 1700s, but as soon as you start digging, you should remember that the diamond is known as calcite crystals that are just valuable to the mine. Up you can get a great view of Honolulu area and not to forget, bring a flashlight as a pathway through the dark tunnel.

    Do you know any more Hawaii facts for kids? How about sharing it in the comments below.

  • Neil Armstrong Facts For Kids – The First Man on Moon

    Neil Armstrong Facts For Kids – The First Man on Moon

    You might want to know these amazing Neil Armstrong facts for kids that includes his personal achievements, awards, initial career, and his remarks after coming from a historic journey.

    Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on moon. It was the historical day of July 20, 1969 when Neil stepped out of the lunar module and walked on the moon and marked his words in the history of mankind, “One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind.” He was only 38 at that time.

    Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930 in Wapakonita, Ohio. It was the result of several years of persistent efforts that continued in good times and bad times, or may be the outcome of a bitter competition from the feared rivals. It had to happen that day.

    Neil Armstrong Facts For Kids

    Armstrong was always willing to fly as high as one could dream of. Finally his dream came true when, after completing his degree from Purdue, he decided to join the then National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) which later became National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Eventually, he lived up to his inspiration but the journey did not stop.

    Prominent among his achievements were those of initial flight hours which he had experienced while conducting 50 types of aircrafts. Armstrong while logging 2,450 hours also attained a speed of Mach 5.74 (4,000 mph) together with an altitude measuring at 63,198 meters (207,500 ft). He flew in the X-15 aircraft.

    Technically, Armstrong was an engineer and he had a craze to become a pilot. Many non-engineering pilots condemned his flying technique by marking that Armstrong’s flying technique was too technical to do the job.

    Some of his critics were Pete Knight and Chuck Yeager. They believed that flying is not all about moving sound in a mechanical manner rather it’s what you feel. One could hardly get this feeling while an engineer is flying.

    It goes without saying that Armstrong was no less competent as compared to other non-engineer pilots but he was also involved in few ariel accidents.

    Armstrong began studying aeronautical engineering in 1947 Purdue University while he was on Navy scholarship.

    Neil Armstrong was married to Janet Shearon on January 1956. Janet initially gave birth to a son and a daughter whose names were Eric and Karen respectively. Karen however passed away because of incurable brain tumor. She died on January 1962. In the following year, the couple soon added another son to their family whose name was Mark.

    In 1963, Armstrong was the first American civilian to fly in space. Earlier in 1957, he was picked for the MISS (Man In Space Soonest) mission.

    On March 16 1966, Armstrong was sent on Gemini 8 mission. In the mission, Neil served as a Command Pilot and the crew was supposed to finish the first ever docking with the other unmanned Agena spacecraft. However, they couldn’t complete the ‘extra-vernacular activity’ even though they managed to dock with the craft after 6.5 hours. This had never taken place in the history before that the two vehicles successfully docked in space.

    Armstrong was also deemed to be the only person to communicate directly with the astronauts on mission. He served as a CAPCOM for Gemini 11.

    He served as the commander of the back-up crew of the Apollo program (Apollo 8).

    Neil Armstrong was never going to set a first foot on the moon in fact one of his colleagues Buzz Aldrin was deemed to do this job in the start. However, the positions of astronauts in the module became complicated and Aldrin could only reach the hatch by crawling over Armstrong. So the plan was changed and finally it was decided that Armstrong would be the one to step out of module (upon landing) and make history.

    People gave three astronauts a warm welcome when they returned to earth on July 24, 1969. Crowds all over the streets of New York were anxiously waiting to see this historic moment of their famous heroes. Consequently, Armstrong won many awards such as the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and a Medal of Freedom.

    Armstrong underwent severe blocked coronary arteries as a result of which he had to go through bypass surgery on August 7, 2012. However he couldn’t held any longer and he passed away on August 25, 2012 in Ohio when the surgery caused several complications. On the eve of his death, White House pronounced Armstrong as ‘one of the greatest American heroes of all time’.

  • George Washington Facts For Kids – The First President of America

    George Washington Facts For Kids – The First President of America

    George Washington was the true colonial patriot who very boldly led the revolution against Englishmen. The whole American nation owes him for his phenomenal efforts in winning the independence for United States. His efforts and his personality as a whole will long be admired in the realm of country’s freedom from slavery.  Let’s see how much you crave for these amazing George Washington facts for kids.

    George Washington Facts For Kids

    1. George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. He was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmorland County. He made many changes in the constitution which clearly laid down the status of president.
    2. George was unanimously elected as the president on February 4 1789 and he served two terms in his office.
    3. Since George was the first one to lead the country, he brought about many customs of government machinery that are still being practiced. Some of these customs were the cabinet system or delivering an inaugural address.
    4. Not only his personality traits inspired people but also his leadership style left an unending mark on the minds of Americans.
    5. He was born in a well-off family of Colonial Virginia, his father owned tobacco slaves and plantations. However, he lost his father and his brother too early in his lifetime. George then started living with William Fairfax, who raised him as a soldier and surveyor.
    6. In April 12, 1743 Washington’s father passed away.
    7. In 1747, George decided to live with his half-brother, Lawrence in Mount Vernon.
    8. On July 1752, Lawrence had died due to smallpox. For the first time, George took over the post of Lawrence in Virginia militia.
    9. In October 31, 1753, George began his maiden military mission to convey a message requesting that the French must depart from the Ohio Valley.
    10. On May 24 1754, George American Troops under the leadership of George Washington began a surprise attack on French at Fort Duquesne.
    11. On January 6 1759, Washington got married to Martha Dandridge Custis.
    12. On May 10 1775, a second Continental Congress was convened in which issues regarded independence from Britain was discussed.
    13. On June 15 1775, George became the Commander-in-chief of continental army.
    14. In the initial stages of Indian and French War, George for the first time held an important senior position. George signed a peace treaty by the name of Jay Treaty with Great Britain in 1795, in order to avoid any warfare between the two countries.
    15. George left presidency on March 15 1797 and returned back to his home in Mount Vernon where he muddled through many business enterprises.
    16. George died in December 14 1799 in his home in Mount Vernon.

    “How my very soul goes out to people who have not figured out the first rule of true happiness and Divine Love, which must reign the world”

                                                                                 (George Washington)

    Unknown George Washington Facts For Kids

    1. When George Washington was fourteen, he tried to join British Army and it is said that Americans might not have won the Revolutionary War had Washington gone away to sea. Americans owe a great deal to the George’s mother who didn’t let him to join British Army.
    2. Augustine Washington was the father of George Washington. He had two wives; his first wife passed away in 1729 who gave him three children: George’s half-brothers Lawrence and Augustine, and half-sister Jane. Washington was born to the second wife (Mary Ball) of Augustine. Mary Ball gave birth to six children out of which George Washington was the oldest.
    3. John Washington was his great grandfather who crossed an Atlantic Ocean as a shipmate. He was an English adventurer.
    4. It is thought that the original date of birth of Washington was February 11 and not February 22. It so happened that at the birth of Washington English colonies was using Julian calendar. The calendar gained one day about every 134 years which is why it was soon swapped with the Gregorian calendar by the 16th century. However, England accepted it 200 years later in 1752. There was a difference of eleven days between the two calendars and George’s date of birth moved from Feb. 11 to Feb 22.
    5. Washington however was not convinced by these changes and he continued to celebrate his birthday on February 11 which he also mentioned in the journal published few days before his death.
    6. George met too many tragedies in the early part of his childhood. He lost his half-sister Jane while he was an infant and when George was only one year old, his other sister Mildred left him.
    7. Washington’s mother was too strict as she often scolded him and his siblings. George was supposed to look after his brothers and sisters, a duty which his mother imposed on him. When George became the president of the United States, his mother often complained about him for not visiting her too often.
    8. When George was sixteen he fell in love with Sally Cary Fairfax, but their friendship did not turn into marital relationship because Sally was already married; nevertheless sally and her husband were good friends of George.
    9. George used to write his life adventures in his personal diary with times to remember with his beloved Sally.
    10. George also wrote some poems while he was young. He was shy and indifferent but he was a good horsemen and dancer.

    Learn more: George Washington Facts

  • Niagara Falls Facts For Kids – The Three Waterfalls

    Niagara Falls Facts For Kids – The Three Waterfalls

    You shall enjoy all these amazing Niagara Falls facts as you’re about to discover that the Falls is not only a city but a personification of a natural wonder. Niagara Falls is a combined name for three waterfalls that lies between New York and Ontario, a Canadian province. These three waterfalls are Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Of these, horseshoe waterfalls are considered to be the most powerful fall as also measured by its fast flow rate. All these waterfalls combined to form a height of 165 feet vertically.

    Niagara Falls Facts For Kids

    Niagara falls have long been accepted for romantic getaways, and it has too much to offer its visitors including resort-hotels as well as its spectacular scenery.

    These falls usually connect two American lakes; lake Ontario in the north and Lake Erie in the south. Therefore, they are claimed equally by their respective countries.

    The falls are believed to have been flowing for about 12,000 years ago, but the fact of the case is that they are not stationery, they are moving towards south up the Niagara River, gradually grinding away at the rocks.

    The length of the Niagara River is 35 miles and the water drops about 170 feet including the rocks at the base of the falls. The falls may not be as high but it is extremely wide with more than 150,000 gallons of water flowing per second from the edge.

    These falls were stopped couple of times in the past; first was in 1869 when an iceberg blocked the stream of water and the second occurred hundred years later in 1969, when the American falls was deliberately stopped for several months. The purpose was to remove some rocks at the base but the project seemed expensive and later unfeasible.

    Clovis people were the first human inhabitants settled in Niagara Falls near the ice age. This was the time when falls were beginning to form slowly with the melting of ice.

    Niagara Falls drew the attention of its tourists and began functioning commercially in 1820s. It goes without saying that many people had visited before 1820s but the falls had not become much of tourist attraction then. It was only when ferries and paved road were built, the westerners began visiting too often. These falls are nature’s embodiment of beauty and elegance where people would come and spend the whole day on the Great Gorge. If you’re lucky enough you may also come across few stunt performers entertaining the visitors. But it happens once in a while.

    Not only does Niagara Falls facilitate people, but there is an ice bridge which was formed due to large chunks of slush and ice made their way from Erie, and then topples over Niagara Falls. It is called Ice Bridge because the Niagara River flows underneath the surface of the ice. The depth of the bridge is 50 feet while it extends over a mile. However, if the winters are not too cold, Ice Bridge does not form. Since 1840s, the bridge has become a popular attraction for visitors where people come and involve with sporting activity and merchants would sell their wares. Having said that however, these activities are done with complete caution because no one knows precisely as to how long the bridge would last. One such unfortunate incident took place in 1912 when the Ice Bridge broke up and the three visitors fell in the river and died.

    Sam Patch was one of the first stunt performers who had tried to jump into the Niagara River without falling in the falls. Jean Francois, however, was the popular early performer and was known by the name of ‘Blondin’. Sometimes these stunts are successful while sometimes deadly.

  • Martin Luther King Facts For Kids | An American Icon

    Martin Luther King Facts For Kids | An American Icon

    An average middle-class African-American with some extraordinary potential, Luther King lives in a time when racism and hatred among black and whites are on the rise. But King emerges as the glimmer of hope for the Afro-Americans (who were by now in a miserable state) and fights for their equal rights. To start with, he opens his eyes in the house of clergymen in Atlanta and under the strict command of his father (Martin Luther King Sr.), he remains as a disciplined child. He loves Mama Williams (grandma) too much, who is a kindhearted woman and often gets upset while seeing Daddy King whipping Luther King Jr. As she passes away, her death comes as a great shocker and for a time he feels as if he is the cause of her demise as he is also her favorite child. Though he’s always been a lively child and fancies playing baseball and basketball with his pals yet he faces a setback when his white mate leaves him on account of racism. In his early years, he realizes that his complexion makes him inferior to others but his parents cheer him up with the Golden Rule of Jesus.

    Later on, after graduating from Morehouse College, he leads a historic march toward Washington with nearly 250,000 nonviolent troops and delivers a speech “I Have A Dream” that afterwards becomes the hallmark of Martin Luther King. Inspired by the non-violent activism of Mahatma Gandhi (India), King has always had a strong conviction that the strength of love and non-violent means of protesting are the only ways to raise your voice. Who knows, that an African-American would stand up one day for the rights of Negroes and swing the pendulum to his way with the power of love. King was truly a leader, thinker and a man of high moral character who shaped the history of America forever.

    Interesting Facts

    • When Luther King was born, at the time the surgeons thought he was lifeless since King neither moved his feet nor hands. But after several heavy whacks on his lower body, the King began to weep and thus a silent beginning to his tedious life. 
    • King had a white mate (of his own age) when he was around 3 years of age. But when both of them turns to 6 years, King is shaken up by the sudden end to their friendship as his white friend’s parents told their son to stay away from black kid (King). Both of them would go to separate schools segregated on the basis of black and white thereby creating discrimination from the word go. King feels great anguish over this one-sided treatment with black South Americans. Going forward, King asks his parents about this breaking up and they tell him about the racial discrimination. By now King didn’t know any such favoritism but the end of his friendship creates hostility in the King’s mind against whites though his parents always teaches him to love everybody (including white). 
    • While he is just five years old, King signs up to a cathedral along with his sister. According to him, church becomes his second home afterwards.
    • The officially authorized name of Mike until he was 6 years old was “Michael Luther King”. Later on his father changed his own name as well as his son’s from Michael Luther King to Martin Luther King due to the admiration of a German activist who was the prime mover of Protestantism in 1500s.
    • At the age of 5, Mike (nickname of M. L. King) crams most of the chapters from Bible and rattles off long paragraphs of Bible quite easily. He sings lots of hymns in the cathedral while Mama Williams supplements him with piano.
    • King is so emotionally attached with her maternal grandma (Jennie Celeste Williams or Mama Williams) that when she passes away in Spring 1941, the distressed child goes uphill and leap from a window of his house (from the second-story). Though he has had some bashes on his face, but doesn’t receive any severe injuries. Actually, at the time King ran off to see the march past with no thumps up signal from Mama Williams. So he thinks he is guilty of his grandma’s demise as God penalized him for leaving the house without approval.
    • Luther King Sr. also known as ‘Daddy King’ (son of sharecropper) is really a man of high convictions and he whacks his child (Mike) with a leather belt when Mike goes off the rails at times. But Mike is an obedient kid and while weeping he often goes to his grandmother, Mama Williams.
    • During his two years at school from 1940 to 1942, though he obtains decent marks in most subjects but he fails in the subject of social studies. 
    • Mike loves riding bicycle, flying colorful kites in the air and playing baseball game with his pals. Likewise in his teen years, he also likes listening piano music and fist fighting.
    • From the very beginning, King loves reading books about African history particularly the stories of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, who broke out from slavery during 1800s.
    • In his initial years, Martin King once says to his father that he is looking ahead to become an attorney or a doctor. But later on two ministers of Morehouse inspire him and he vows to become a minister one day.
    • Martin Luther king has always been a neat and clean child; always dress up and comb his hair properly.
    • On account of his hard slog and brilliant performance in schooldays, the King’s parents once awarded him with a spanking new Chevrolet car. 
    • While he was a teenager, his pals used to call him as ‘Tweed’. Why? Well, Because King would often spend lion’s share of his income from selling Atlanta Journal on his costumes and had a stylish personality too. 
    • Martin also loves to sing and dance but Daddy King doesn’t like his son involving in dancing activities. Hence Martin has to say sorry (for dancing) before the flocks of Ebenezer Baptist Church as his father tells him to do so.
    • Like many other Black American children, King also hands out Atlanta Journal in order to raise some money. 
    • In the early years of his childhood, Mike often grapples with his brother, Alfred Daniel (A. D.). Once A. D. banged a baseball bat to Mike and in other event Mike hit his brother with a telephone bumped on his head. 
    • Gloria Royster was the king’s girlfriend with whom he used to go out for a date at Spelman. 
    • King has always been an inquisitive child and while initially he doesn’t cast doubts on the biblical teachings, this attitude cannot continue for too long. Hence as he turns into 12 years, questions begin to arise and soon after renders his teachers (Sunday School) speechless with his difference of opinion on bodily resurrection of Jesus. 
    • At the age of 14, King takes a trip from Atlanta to Dublin (Georgia) along with his teacher Mrs. Bradley to join in a competition. He wins the debating competition on the topic: ‘The Negro and The Constitution’.
    • While on his way to home (from Dublin to Atlanta after winning the competition) along with his teacher Mrs. Bradley, few white passengers enters the bus. As they move in, the driver instructs both (King and Mrs. Bradley) of them to drop back at the rear seats. At first, King doesn’t follow quickly so the driver uses foul language but Mrs. Bradley tells the King to follow the law (Jim Crow Laws 1876 – 1965). Hence Mrs. Bradley and King steps back, get to their feet and covers the journey of 90 miles in a standing posture (probably because there is no vacant seat behind). At the time King was just 14 years old and King said it was the most furious moment in his life and that he would never put behind him!
    • King leaves his family behind in Atlanta when he is only 15 years of age and set out for Connecticut (Simsbury) tobacco farm with 107 schoolboys. King along with other students (both black and white) goes to work in fall so in order to meet academy expenditures. He also writes a letter to his father saying ‘on his way there he witnesses some things that he had never expected to see. As soon as they pass Washington, they do not see any prejudice and white people there are very kind. They are free to go anywhere they want to and sit anywhere they like.’
    • Luther King was truly a gifted child from the word go as he skips 9th grade as well as 12th grade. As a result, he never graduated from high school and while he is just 15 years of age, Morehouse College applauds his arrival. The very college from where his father and grandfather also finished their studies.
    • Before the time at Morehouse College, not once in a 12-month period did King manage to study for over 3 months. 
    • Walter McCall is one of the earliest fellow students of Luther King and both friends are poorly off. McCall is even poorer than King and while he raises some money through becoming haircutter, once both of them comes to grips with each other. But later on, they turn out to be intimate friends and people start calling them by the names of “Mac and Mike”. 
    • According to a letter written by him to his mother (Alberta Williams King) in October 1948, King used to receive five dollars per week from his parents.
    • Ebenezer Baptist Church has been his ancestors’ cathedral wherein both his grandfather as well as his father was ministers. Besides, King also gives a lion’s share of his early years to this very church. That’s why National Park Service has now preserved the cathedral as a historical place from 1999.
    • At the age of 25, King develops into a minister of the Montgomery Cathedral known as Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
    • After King walks down the aisle with Coretta Scott in 1953, the couple fails to find a single hotel in Marion (to spend a night) who would accept African Americans. So they have to resort to the funeral parlor of one of king’s friends. Later on, it becomes a practical joke and King would often enjoy remembering that night with his wife. 
    • As he turns into a head of the new association in December 1955, King prepares his maiden speech (as a leader) within just 15 minutes (he was given only 20 minutes to gear up for the address but he loses his first 5 minutes in praying to God) which afterwards becomes the pivotal speech of his lifetime. 
    • On September 20, 1958 while Dr. King puts his signatures in the New York City’s Store for his recently published book entitled ‘Stride Toward Freedom’, an African-American lady (Izola Ware Curry) shows up. After asking Dr. King’s name, she stabs him on the upper body. By chance, he gets away this time as he is rushed to the hospital right away and feeling okay after his 3-hour surgical treatment of aorta (the biggest artery in the human body).
    • The peaceful campaigning of Mahatma Gandhi becomes a source of inspiration for Luther King. Hence in 1959, King (along with his wife) pays a visit to the hometown of Mahatma Gandhi in India.
    • Though king does not stand up for any political party whether it is Democratic or Republican but he gives his vote to John F. Kennedy (Democratic candidate) in the 1960 elections.
    • As the demonstration takes the next step, so are the bullying mails and telephone calls pressurizing the king’s family. Sometimes there are 30 to 40 intimidating messages per day warning them to stop their protest.
    • On 28 August, 1963 Dr. King gives a historical lecture “I Have A Dream” and the speech continues for about 17 minutes. In this epic address, he emphasizes to finish off prejudice and favoritism on the basis of race or color. 
    • Every year in January 21, America praises Dr. King by announcing public holiday and this day is known as Martin Luther King Jr. day.
    Martin luther king with his family - Martin Luther King facts for kids
    Martin King with his daughter (Yolanda) and his son (Martin Luther King III) | Image courtesy of slate.com