Dexter King, who is the the third child of the late civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., has just passed away on Monday, 22nd January, after a long battle with prostate cancer.
According to his wife, Leah Weber King, he died in his sleep at his home in Malibu, California – Dexter was 62 years old. She also went further to say,
He gave it everything and battled this terrible disease until the end. As with all the challenges in his life, he faced this hurdle with bravery and might.
Dexter King was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia on January 30, 1961. He was the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. After attending Morehouse College as a business admin major (the same institution his late father and grandfather attended), he pursued a career in civil and animal rights activism, advocacy, and law.
He also worked as an actor, produced documentaries, and wrote a memoir about his father, titled “Growing Up King: An Intimate Memoir”, where he shared his personal experiences and insights on his father’s life, assassination, and legacy.
Before his death, Dexter King was described by his family and friends as a brave, compassionate, and visionary leader who embodied his father’s spirit and values.
He served as the chairman of The King Center and the president of the King Estate, where he was instrumental in securing the rights to his father’s speeches, writings, and images, and in creating the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta.
The King Center is a non-profit organization located in Atlanta, Georgia that was founded by Coretta Scott King in 1968, after the assassination of her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. It’s mission is to promote nonviolent social change and social justice through education, training, and events.
