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'''Alfred Daniel Williams "A. D." King''' (born [[July 30]], [[1930]] in Atlanta, Georgia - died [[July 21]], [[1969]] in Atlanta) was the pastor of [[First Baptist Church of Ensley]] from [[1961]] to [[1965]] and a leader in the [[Civil Rights Movement]] in [[Birmingham]]. | [[Image:A. D. King.jpg|right|thumb|A. D. King in 1967]] | ||
'''Alfred Daniel Williams "A. D." King Sr''' (born [[July 30]], [[1930]] in Atlanta, Georgia - died [[July 21]], [[1969]] in Atlanta) was the pastor of [[First Baptist Church of Ensley]] from [[1961]] to [[1965]] and a leader in the [[Civil Rights Movement]] in [[Birmingham]]. | |||
King was the youngest of three children born to Martin Luther King, Sr and his wife Alberta Williams King in Atlanta. In his youth his rough reputation and disinterest in school contrasted with his older brother, [[Martin Luther King | King was the youngest of three children born to Martin Luther King, Sr and his wife Alberta Williams King in Atlanta. In his youth his rough reputation and disinterest in school contrasted with his older brother, [[Martin Luther King Jr]]. He married [[Naomi King|Naomi Ruth Barber]] on [[June 17]], [[1950]] at the age of 17 and started a family which eventually produced five children. | ||
Though he initially was uninterested in ministerial work, King began assisting his father at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church in the 1950s and began attending Morehouse College. When he graduated in [[1959]] he accepted the call to pastor Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia. | Though he initially was uninterested in ministerial work, King began assisting his father at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church in the 1950s and began attending Morehouse College. When he graduated in [[1959]] he accepted the call to pastor Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia. | ||
==Civil Rights movement== | ==Civil Rights movement== | ||
Shortly after being arrested at a mass sit-in at Atlanta lunch-counters, King moved to [[Birmingham]] to become pastor of First Baptist of Ensley. His family moved into the [[A. D. King residence|parsonage]] nearby. King became involved in the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] which was founded by fellow pastor [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] and was instrumental in helping plan and organize the [[Birmingham campaign]] led by the ACMHR and Martin Luther King's [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]]. | Shortly after being arrested at a mass sit-in at Atlanta lunch-counters, King moved to [[Birmingham]] to become pastor of First Baptist of Ensley. He was installed on [[March 18]], [[1962]]. His family moved into the [[A. D. King residence|parsonage]] nearby. King became involved in the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] which was founded by fellow pastor [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] and was instrumental in helping plan and organize the [[Birmingham campaign]] led by the ACMHR and Martin Luther King's [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]]. | ||
During the campaign King joined Reverends [[John Thomas Porter]] and [[Nelson | During the campaign King joined Reverends [[John Thomas Porter]] and [[Nelson Smith Jr]] on the [[Palm Sunday march]] to [[Birmingham City Hall]] and was arrested and jailed for parading without a permit. He was released after a truce was announced between movement leaders and Birmingham's business and political leadership. He returned home on [[May 11]] and began preparing a Mother's Day sermon for the next morning. | ||
At 10:45 that night, | At 10:45 that night, however, King's home was bombed by [[Ku Klux Klan]] members. He shepherded his family safely out the back door just as a second blast blew his front door to pieces. That event and another [[List of racially-motivated bombings|bombing]] a few hours later at the [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] touched off several [[May 1963 riot|hours of rioting]], despite pleas from Reverend King and other ministers who urged peace and faith. | ||
Another riot followed the bombing of [[Arthur Shores]]' [[Arthur Shores residence|home]] in August of that year. A. D. King climbed onto a parked car in the midst of the rock-throwing and pleaded with the crowd to disperse peacefully, telling them "If you're going to kill someone, then kill me." (NY Times - 1963) | Another riot followed the bombing of [[Arthur Shores]]' [[Arthur Shores residence|home]] in August of that year. A. D. King climbed onto a parked car in the midst of the rock-throwing and pleaded with the crowd to disperse peacefully, telling them "If you're going to kill someone, then kill me." (NY Times - 1963) | ||
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In [[1965]] King became the pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He continued to work for civil rights and led a campaign for an open-housing ordinance which passed in [[1968]]. He chose not to take up the mantle of leadership of the SCLC after his brother's assassination in April of that year, but he did continue working with the group in its Poor People's Campaign and other efforts. Zion Baptist was bombed in August 1968. | In [[1965]] King became the pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He continued to work for civil rights and led a campaign for an open-housing ordinance which passed in [[1968]]. He chose not to take up the mantle of leadership of the SCLC after his brother's assassination in April of that year, but he did continue working with the group in its Poor People's Campaign and other efforts. Zion Baptist was bombed in August 1968. | ||
King left Louisville to return to Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta and became a co-pastor in September 1968. On [[July 21]], [[1969]] he was found drowned to death in the swimming pool at his home. Some have speculated that his death was not accidental. He was survived by his wife and five children (Alveda, Alfred II, Derek, Darlene and Vernon). | King left Louisville to return to Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta and became a co-pastor in September 1968. On [[July 21]], [[1969]] he was found drowned to death in the swimming pool at his home. Some have speculated that his death was not accidental. He was survived by his wife and five children (Alveda, Alfred II, Derek, Darlene and Vernon). He was buried at South View Cemetery in Atlanta. | ||
Naomi established the A. D. King Foundation in South Fulton, Georgia to empower youth and women, and to push for social change by non-violent means. She died in [[2024]]. | |||
{{Civil Rights}} | {{Civil Rights}} | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
* " | * "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Daniel_Williams_King Alfred Daniel Williams King]" (September 13, 2008) Wikipedia - accessed September 13, 2008 | ||
* "Bomb Hits Home in Birmingham" (August 1, 1963) ''The New York Times'' | * "Bomb Hits Home in Birmingham" (August 1, 1963) ''The New York Times'' | ||
* "The Rev. A. D. Williams King" (August 1, 1969) ''Time'' magazine | * "The Rev. A. D. Williams King" (August 1, 1969) ''Time'' magazine | ||
* Johnson, Thomas A. (July 22, 1969) "A Rights Activist" ''The New York Times'' | * Johnson, Thomas A. (July 22, 1969) "A Rights Activist" ''The New York Times'' | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Alfred | ==External links== | ||
* [https://www.adkingfoundation.com/adking/ Gallery] at adkingfoundation.com | |||
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20126/alfred-daniel_williams-king Alfred Daniel Williams King Sr] at Findagrave.com | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Alfred}} | |||
[[Category:1930 births]] | [[Category:1930 births]] | ||
[[Category:1969 deaths]] | [[Category:1969 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Baptist ministers]] | [[Category:Baptist ministers]] | ||
[[Category:Civil rights activists]] | [[Category:Civil rights activists]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:55, 15 March 2024
Alfred Daniel Williams "A. D." King Sr (born July 30, 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia - died July 21, 1969 in Atlanta) was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Ensley from 1961 to 1965 and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham.
King was the youngest of three children born to Martin Luther King, Sr and his wife Alberta Williams King in Atlanta. In his youth his rough reputation and disinterest in school contrasted with his older brother, Martin Luther King Jr. He married Naomi Ruth Barber on June 17, 1950 at the age of 17 and started a family which eventually produced five children.
Though he initially was uninterested in ministerial work, King began assisting his father at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church in the 1950s and began attending Morehouse College. When he graduated in 1959 he accepted the call to pastor Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia.
Civil Rights movement
Shortly after being arrested at a mass sit-in at Atlanta lunch-counters, King moved to Birmingham to become pastor of First Baptist of Ensley. He was installed on March 18, 1962. His family moved into the parsonage nearby. King became involved in the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights which was founded by fellow pastor Fred Shuttlesworth and was instrumental in helping plan and organize the Birmingham campaign led by the ACMHR and Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
During the campaign King joined Reverends John Thomas Porter and Nelson Smith Jr on the Palm Sunday march to Birmingham City Hall and was arrested and jailed for parading without a permit. He was released after a truce was announced between movement leaders and Birmingham's business and political leadership. He returned home on May 11 and began preparing a Mother's Day sermon for the next morning.
At 10:45 that night, however, King's home was bombed by Ku Klux Klan members. He shepherded his family safely out the back door just as a second blast blew his front door to pieces. That event and another bombing a few hours later at the A. G. Gaston Motel touched off several hours of rioting, despite pleas from Reverend King and other ministers who urged peace and faith.
Another riot followed the bombing of Arthur Shores' home in August of that year. A. D. King climbed onto a parked car in the midst of the rock-throwing and pleaded with the crowd to disperse peacefully, telling them "If you're going to kill someone, then kill me." (NY Times - 1963)
Later life
In 1965 King became the pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He continued to work for civil rights and led a campaign for an open-housing ordinance which passed in 1968. He chose not to take up the mantle of leadership of the SCLC after his brother's assassination in April of that year, but he did continue working with the group in its Poor People's Campaign and other efforts. Zion Baptist was bombed in August 1968.
King left Louisville to return to Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta and became a co-pastor in September 1968. On July 21, 1969 he was found drowned to death in the swimming pool at his home. Some have speculated that his death was not accidental. He was survived by his wife and five children (Alveda, Alfred II, Derek, Darlene and Vernon). He was buried at South View Cemetery in Atlanta.
Naomi established the A. D. King Foundation in South Fulton, Georgia to empower youth and women, and to push for social change by non-violent means. She died in 2024.
References
- "Alfred Daniel Williams King" (September 13, 2008) Wikipedia - accessed September 13, 2008
- "Bomb Hits Home in Birmingham" (August 1, 1963) The New York Times
- "The Rev. A. D. Williams King" (August 1, 1969) Time magazine
- Johnson, Thomas A. (July 22, 1969) "A Rights Activist" The New York Times
External links
- Gallery at adkingfoundation.com
- Alfred Daniel Williams King Sr at Findagrave.com