Why Martin Luther King Sr. Changed His Name [Video]

The name we recognize today as one of the most powerful voices during the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., was originally not named “Martin Luther.” His father decided to change their names when he was just a toddler. The reason why may shock you.

Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. was on a multinational trip in 1934 with the Baptist World Alliance when he had the idea, according to 1517. He had joined with the Fifth World Congress of Baptist, which attracted clergy and congregations members from several countries to meet in Berlin, Germany. The event was in 1934, one year after Adolf Hitler became chancellor, per the organization. There, King Sr. learned the history of Protestant reformer Martin Luther.

If you didn’t know, the OG Martin Lutherwas the founder of …