Alfred Daniel Williams King
Encyclopedia
Alfred Daniel Williams King (July 30, 1930 – July 21, 1969), known as A. D. King, was the younger brother of Martin Luther King, Jr.
, the famed leader of the American civil-rights movement
. Like his older brother, A. D. King was a Baptist
minister and an activist for civil rights.
. He was a son of Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr.
, and Alberta Williams King
, the youngest of their three children (the other two being Willie Christine, born September 11, 1927, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
, born January 15, 1929). In contrast to his peacemaking brother, Martin, A. D.—according to his father—was “a little rough at times” and “let his toughness build a reputation throughout our neighborhood” (King, Sr., 126). Less interested in academics than his siblings, A. D. started a family of his own while still a teenager. He was married on June 17, 1950, to Naomi Ruth Barber (born 1932), with whom he had five children: Alveda
, Alfred II (d), Derek I, Darlene (d), and Vernon (1960–2009).
Although as a youth A. D. had strongly resisted his father’s ministerial urgings, he eventually began assisting his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church. In 1959, A. D. King graduated from Morehouse College
. The same year, he left Ebenezer Baptist to become pastor of Mount Vernon First Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia
.
in Atlanta. In 1963, A. D. King became a leader of the Birmingham campaign
, while pastoring at First Baptist Church of Ensley in Birmingham, Alabama
. On May 11, 1963, King’s house was bombed. In August, after a bomb exploded at the home of a prominent black lawyer in downtown Birmingham, outraged citizens, intent on revenge, poured into the city streets. While rocks were being thrown at gathering policemen and the situation escalated, A. D. King climbed on top of a parked car and shouted to the rioters in an attempt to quell their fury: “My friends, we have had enough problems tonight. If you’re going to kill someone, then kill me. . . Stand up for your rights, but with nonviolence.”
Like his brother, A. D. was a staunch believer in the importance of maintaining nonviolence
in direct-action campaigns. However, unlike his brother, A. D. remained mostly outside the media’s spotlight. As one of his associates said, “Not being in the limelight never seemed to affect him, but because he stayed in the background, many people never knew that he was deeply involved, too” .
In 1965, King moved to Louisville, Kentucky
, where he became pastor at Zion Baptist Church. While there, King continued to fight for civil rights and was successful in a 1968 campaign for an open-housing ordinance. After his brother's assassination
in April 1968, there was speculation that A. D. might become the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
. A. D., however, made no effort to assume his deceased brother’s role, although he did continue to be active in the Poor People's Campaign
and in other work on behalf of SCLC.
After the death of Martin, A. D. King returned to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where in September 1968 he was installed as co-pastor. He was praised by his father as “an able preacher, a concerned, loving pastor.”
On July 21, 1969, nine days before his 39th birthday, A. D. King was found dead in the swimming pool at his home after a long bout with alcohol and depression. The cause of his death was listed as an accidental drowning.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
, the famed leader of the American civil-rights movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
. Like his older brother, A. D. King was a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister and an activist for civil rights.
Biography
Alfred King was born July 30, 1930, in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He was a son of Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr.
Martin Luther King, Sr.
Martin Luther King, Sr., born Michael King was a Baptist missionary, an advocate for equal justice and an early civil rights leader. He was also the father of Martin Luther King, Jr.King, Sr...
, and Alberta Williams King
Alberta Williams King
Alberta Christine Williams King was Martin Luther King, Jr.'s mother and the wife of Martin Luther King, Sr. She played a significant role in the affairs of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where her father, husband and son all served as pastor...
, the youngest of their three children (the other two being Willie Christine, born September 11, 1927, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
, born January 15, 1929). In contrast to his peacemaking brother, Martin, A. D.—according to his father—was “a little rough at times” and “let his toughness build a reputation throughout our neighborhood” (King, Sr., 126). Less interested in academics than his siblings, A. D. started a family of his own while still a teenager. He was married on June 17, 1950, to Naomi Ruth Barber (born 1932), with whom he had five children: Alveda
Alveda King
Alveda Celeste King is an American Christian minister, conservative, pro-life activist, and author. She is a niece of the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and daughter of the late civil rights activist Rev. A. D. William King, Sr. and his wife Naomi Barber King...
, Alfred II (d), Derek I, Darlene (d), and Vernon (1960–2009).
Although as a youth A. D. had strongly resisted his father’s ministerial urgings, he eventually began assisting his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church. In 1959, A. D. King graduated from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
. The same year, he left Ebenezer Baptist to become pastor of Mount Vernon First Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia
Newnan, Georgia
Newnan is a city in Coweta County, Georgia, about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta. The population was 16,242 at the 2000 Census. Newnan is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia, with an estimated population of 27,097 in 2006 and 33,293 in July 2008...
.
Involvement in the civil-rights movement
Alfred King was arrested along with King, Jr., and 70 others while participating in an October 1960 lunch-counter sit-inSit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
in Atlanta. In 1963, A. D. King became a leader of the Birmingham campaign
Birmingham campaign
The Birmingham campaign was a strategic movement organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to bring attention to the unequal treatment that black Americans endured in Birmingham, Alabama...
, while pastoring at First Baptist Church of Ensley in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. On May 11, 1963, King’s house was bombed. In August, after a bomb exploded at the home of a prominent black lawyer in downtown Birmingham, outraged citizens, intent on revenge, poured into the city streets. While rocks were being thrown at gathering policemen and the situation escalated, A. D. King climbed on top of a parked car and shouted to the rioters in an attempt to quell their fury: “My friends, we have had enough problems tonight. If you’re going to kill someone, then kill me. . . Stand up for your rights, but with nonviolence.”
Like his brother, A. D. was a staunch believer in the importance of maintaining nonviolence
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
in direct-action campaigns. However, unlike his brother, A. D. remained mostly outside the media’s spotlight. As one of his associates said, “Not being in the limelight never seemed to affect him, but because he stayed in the background, many people never knew that he was deeply involved, too” .
Later life, and death
For the last part of his life, he was afflicted by alcohol and depression.In 1965, King moved to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, where he became pastor at Zion Baptist Church. While there, King continued to fight for civil rights and was successful in a 1968 campaign for an open-housing ordinance. After his brother's assassination
Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination
Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent American leader of the African-American civil rights movement and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39...
in April 1968, there was speculation that A. D. might become the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
. A. D., however, made no effort to assume his deceased brother’s role, although he did continue to be active in the Poor People's Campaign
Poor People's Campaign
Organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Poor People's Campaign addressed the issues of economic justice and housing for the poor in the United States King said, “We believe the highest patriotism demands the ending of the war and the opening of a...
and in other work on behalf of SCLC.
After the death of Martin, A. D. King returned to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where in September 1968 he was installed as co-pastor. He was praised by his father as “an able preacher, a concerned, loving pastor.”
On July 21, 1969, nine days before his 39th birthday, A. D. King was found dead in the swimming pool at his home after a long bout with alcohol and depression. The cause of his death was listed as an accidental drowning.