1. Dexter Scott King death at 62
2. Martin Luther King Jr.’s younger son passes away at 62.
Dexter Scott King, Son of Martin Luther King Jr., Dies at 62
Dexter Scott King, the younger son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, passed away on January 22 at his home in Malibu, Calif. at the age of 62. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta announced that his death was caused by prostate cancer.
Preserving a Legacy
Born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961, Dexter King was the third of the King family’s four children. He was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., where his father served as a pastor during the Montgomery bus boycott. Dexter was only 7 years old when his father was assassinated in April 1968.
A Burden to Bear
In his memoir, “Growing Up King,” Dexter King described the impact of his father’s death on his childhood. He also spoke openly about the challenges of living in his father’s shadow and his struggle with an undiagnosed attention-deficit disorder. Despite these obstacles, Dexter attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, his father’s alma mater.
A Life of Determination
After leaving college without a degree, Dexter King took on various jobs, including working as a corrections officer and a music promoter. In 1989, he briefly served as the president of the King Center, but conflicts with his mother led to a lack of authority in his position. However, he remained involved with the center, eventually becoming the director and chief executive after his mother’s passing in 1995.
Questioning the Truth
Dexter King attracted attention when he publicly expressed his belief that James Earl Ray, who pleaded guilty to his father’s murder, was innocent. In 1997, he met with Ray in prison, hoping to uncover evidence of a broader conspiracy. However, Ray died the following year from liver failure, and no trial took place.
The Lone Killer
While some associates of Martin Luther King Jr. raised the possibility of other conspirators, a congressional study in 1978 concluded that Ray acted alone. Journalist Gerald Posner’s book on the matter also supported this conclusion.
A Family’s Loss
With the passing of Dexter King, the King family has experienced the loss of another member. His wife of 11 years, Leah Weber King, and his two siblings, Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Bernice King, survive him.
A Legacy in Dispute
During his lifetime, Dexter King and his siblings often disagreed on how to uphold their parents’ legacy. One notable disagreement led to a court battle in 2014 when Dexter and his brother sought to sell their father’s Nobel Peace Prize and traveling Bible. The dispute was resolved in 2016 with the intervention of former President Jimmy Carter acting as a mediator.
Dexter Scott King’s passing marks the loss of an individual who dedicated his life to preserving and protecting the legacy of his father and the civil rights movement. His contributions will be remembered and honored for years to come.
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1. Dexter Scott King death
2. Martin Luther King Jr.’s younger son dies at 62.
