Honoring Martin Luther King, the Nobel Peace Prize He Earned

"The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to King in 1964, four years before he was assassinated. He earned it. King did not beg for it or annoyingly insist that it should be awarded to him. He did not make boastful claims about all he had single-handedly done to help end human suffering in America and abroad. Instead, he bravely put his life on the line for peace and justice, not for a prize."

"The Nobel Foundation was persuaded enough by King's impact to celebrate it. No one had to donate their award to the civil and human rights icon. Same with Barack Obama- his 2009 Nobel Peace Prize did not come via whining, self-aggrandizement, public expressions of entitlement or donation from a prior recipient who desperately endeavored to gain political favor with a U.S. president."

"I learned very little about the prize in my K-12 schools, college or graduate school. I did at least know that King had been awarded it, because it is often a prominent detail in his biography. There is a chance that today's students (including collegians) still do not learn much about the prize in textbooks or anyplace else. Perhaps few would be able to name five prior recipients. But King would probably be one name that most of them call."

Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy are celebrated on a national holiday and throughout the year. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, four years before his assassination. King earned the prize through courageous, selfless leadership and by risking his life for peace and justice rather than pursuing recognition. The Nobel Foundation recognized King's impact without needing donations or political maneuvering. Barack Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize likewise did not result from public entitlement or a prior recipient's donation. Formal education often provides little information about the Nobel Prize, and many students likely cannot name multiple past recipients, though King remains widely known.

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