Alberta King: The Quiet Force Behind a Historic Legacy
Alberta Christine Williams King, was more than just the mother of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—she was responsible for shaping the foundation on which the civil rights leader stood. King often spoke of the positive influence his mother had on his moral development, deeming her “the best mother in the world” (Papers 1:161). In a piece he wrote as a student at Crozer Theological Seminary, he described his mother as being “behind the scene setting forth those motherly cares, the lack of which leaves a missing link in life” (Papers 1:360).
Early Life and Education
Alberta was born in 1904 to Reverend Adam Daniel Williams and Jennie Celeste Parks Williams, a couple devoted to their church and community. Her father, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, instilled a strong sense of faith in Alberta from a young age. Excelling academically, she graduated from the Spelman Seminary (now Spelman College) and pursued further studies at Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute (now Hampton University), where she earned a teaching certificate in 1924.
While preparing for her teaching career, Alberta met Martin Luther King Sr., then known as Michael King. Their connection came through Michael’s sister, who boarded with Alberta’s family. Their romance quickly grew, and Alberta announced their engagement after completing her studies. The couple married on Thanksgiving Day in 1926, and Alberta’s life as an educator, church leader, and mother began.
Family Life and Instilling Values
After their wedding, Alberta and Michael moved into the Williams family home, where they lived with her parents. It was here that their three children were born: Willie Christine King in 1927, Martin Luther King Jr. (then Michael Jr.) in 1929, and Alfred Daniel Williams King in 1930. This home, designated in 1980 as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, became the centre of family life and early education for the King children.
Alberta was an instrumental figure in shaping her children’s values and outlook on life. Martin Luther King Jr. often credited his mother with teaching him about dignity, resilience, and justice. She explained the harsh realities of racism and segregation to him at a young age, describing it as a “social condition” rather than a “natural order.” Martin recalled her saying, “You are as good as anyone,” a message that stayed with him throughout his life.
“She taught me that I should feel a sense of ‘somebodiness,’ but that on the other hand I had to go out and face a system that stared me in the face every day saying you are ‘less than,’ you are ‘not equal to,’” Martin wrote. He also recalled that she taught him about slavery and the Civil War, helping him contextualise the injustices he would later fight against. Alberta’s ability to instil pride and self-respect in her children while acknowledging the systemic inequalities they would face was a hallmark of her quiet strength.
Alberta King, A Life of Service and Leadership
Although societal norms of the time curtailed Alberta’s teaching career after marriage, she dedicated herself to service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Beginning in the 1930s, she served as the church’s organist and choir director, founding the Ebenezer choir and leading it for over 40 years. Her musical leadership deeply influenced her son Martin Jr., fostering his lifelong appreciation for music.
In addition to her musical contributions, Alberta organised and led the Ebenezer Women’s Committee and was active in civic organisations, including the NAACP, the YWCA, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Despite her many commitments, Alberta continued her education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morris Brown College in 1938.
As her son Martin Luther King Jr. rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, Alberta remained a source of quiet support. Though she preferred to stay out of the spotlight, she offered strength and encouragement as he led the civil rights movement. When Martin Jr. was assassinated in 1968, Alberta’s faith and resilience became a cornerstone for her grieving family and community.
The King family endured profound tragedy during Alberta’s later years. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, devastated the family and the nation. Alberta provided strength during this dark time, even as further heartbreak struck the following year when her youngest son, Alfred Daniel Williams King, drowned in a swimming pool accident in 1969.
Despite these immense losses, Alberta continued her life of service. She retired from her role at Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1972 but remained a beloved figure in the community.
A Violent End
On June 30, 1974, tragedy struck once more. Alberta was playing the organ during a service at Ebenezer Baptist Church when a gunman, Marcus Wayne Chenault Jr., opened fire. Chenault, a 23-year-old man motivated by religious extremism, shouted, “You must stop this! I am tired of all this!” before shooting Alberta, deacon Edward Boykin, and another parishioner. Alberta and Boykin succumbed to their injuries shortly after the attack.
Chenault later claimed that he viewed Christians as his enemies and had initially planned to kill Martin Luther King Sr., but Alberta happened to be closer. Though he was convicted and sentenced to death, the King family—consistent in their commitment to nonviolence—successfully campaigned to have his sentence commuted to life in prison.
Legacy
Alberta King’s legacy is one of quiet but powerful influence. She shaped the moral and intellectual foundations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership, teaching him the values of dignity, equality, and justice. As her daughter Christine King Farris noted in her memoir Through It All, Alberta’s role in her children’s development cannot be overstated:
“Every now and then, I have to chuckle as I realise there are people who actually believe [Martin] just appeared. They think he simply happened, that he appeared fully formed, without context, ready to change the world. Take it from his big sister, that’s simply not the case.”
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