From left: Martin Luther King Jr., Yolanda King and Martin Luther King III in 1964. Hulton Archive/Getty
Martin Luther King III has spent his entire life carrying a name that changed history. But behind the famous last name, he’s also just a son who grew up without his father, trying to find his own path while honoring the legacy left behind.
In 2022, King III opened up about his journey and the challenges of growing up as the son of Martin Luther King Jr., the iconic civil rights leader. He was only ten years old when his father was assassinated in 1968, leaving him with memories of a larger-than-life figure who was both a hero to the world and simply “Daddy” to him.
“He was like our little buddy, our playmate,” King III recalled. One of his strongest memories was watching his father come home after long, exhausting days fighting for justice. “He looked like he was carrying 100-pound weights on his legs as he climbed the stairs,” he said. But as soon as his father saw him and his siblings, everything changed. “A renewed energy came across him. He was just ‘Daddy’ again.”
Now 67, King III reflects on the deep impact of his father’s legacy in his book What Is My Legacy?: Realizing a New Dream of Connection, Love and Fulfillment. Co-written with his wife, Arndrea Waters King, and human rights activists Mark and Craig Kielburger, the book explores how he has worked to carry forward his parents’ mission while also carving out his own identity.
He may not have been at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 when his father delivered the legendary “I Have a Dream” speech—he was just five years old at the time—but that speech shaped the course of his life. “Every time I hear it, it brings tears to my eyes,” he shared. “It wasn’t just words. It was a dream that we all have to work toward every single day.”
His father’s impact extended far beyond that moment. After the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the youngest recipient at that time. But then, tragedy struck. When King III was just a boy, his father’s life was cut short, and he was left to navigate life without him.
Growing up without his father was painful. “I wanted to shoot hoops with him, wrestle, ride bikes—just be a kid with my dad,” he said. As he got older, the absence was even more profound. “I wish he could have seen me graduate, marry the love of my life, and raise his only grandchild, Yolanda Renee King.”
His mother, Coretta Scott King, became his guiding light. She passed away in 2006, but her words still echo in his mind. “She would tell me, ‘Your father would be so proud of you.’” While he cherished those words, part of him always longed to hear them directly from his father.
Carrying the King name came with great responsibility. “I’ve spent my life in my father’s shadow,” he admitted. “Sometimes, I’ve wondered if my life would be defined by him or by me.” But over time, he found his answer. Instead of seeing it as a burden, he embraced it as an honor. “The real question isn’t ‘Have I done enough?’ but ‘What more can I do?’”
Even decades later, Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is still unfinished. There’s still work to do, and King III is determined to keep pushing forward. Through his activism, his book, and his family, he’s making sure his father’s message doesn’t just live in history books—it lives in action.
