He was the first Black person to be named TIME Man of the Year

The resounding “I have a dream” speech that Martin Luther King Jr. delivered at the March on Washington in 1963  

A decade before his death, King narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while signing copies of his memoir. 

King is the only non-President whose birthday is a national holiday.

King skipped grades 9-12 and by the age of 15 was admitted to Morehouse College 

Actress Julia Roberts revealed that the King family covered her parents' hospital expenses when she was born in 1967. 

According to the King Center, he was arrested a total of 30 times, mostly for acts of civil disobedience

His family believes James Earl Ray was framed for his assassination