Martin Luther's son Dexter Scott King dies at 62

The recent passing of Dexter Scott King, the son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., at the age of 62 has left a void in the hearts of many who admired and respected his family's legacy. Dexter, like his father, dedicated his life to fighting for equality and justice for all.

Born into a family that was at the forefront of the civil rights movement, Dexter grew up witnessing firsthand the struggles and sacrifices made by his parents. He understood the importance of continuing their work and carrying forward their message of love, peace, and unity. Throughout his life, he remained committed to promoting racial harmony and social change.

Born in Atlanta on Jan. 30, 1961, he was named after Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate. He was the second-born son of Dr. & Mrs. King and was only seven years old when his father was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. Like his father, he grew up in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where his grandfather served as pastor. He was a graduate of Frederick Douglas High School, where he played football and participated in many other school organizations. He then followed in his father’s footsteps to Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Dexter King described the impact his father’s killing had on his childhood, and the rest of his life, in a 2004 memoir, “Growing Up King.”

“Ever since I was seven, I’ve felt I must be formal,” he wrote, adding: “Formality, seriousness, certitude — all these are difficult poses to maintain, even if you’re a person with perfect equilibrium, with all the drama life throws at you.”

As an adult, Dexter King bore such a striking resemblance to his famous father that he was cast to portray him in a 2002 TV move about Parks starring Angela Bassett.

King's death was mourned by the Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network. 

"I was heartbroken to hear that Dexter King left us this morning, but I was comforted by the knowledge he is reunited with his parents and sister," Sharpton said. "Dexter was only seven when his hero, his role model, and, most importantly, his father was taken from us. He turned that pain into activism, however, and dedicated his life to advancing the dream Martin and Coretta Scott King had for their children, their grandchildren, and all the generations to come after."

Dexter King, the third of the Kings' four children, was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968. He was named after Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served as a pastor.

His older brother, Martin Luther King III, said: "The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family."

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Sarah H

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