MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S ONLY GRANDDAUGHTER, YOLANDA RENEE KING, CELEBRATES HIS 88TH BIRTHDAY

Yolanda Renee King at The Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church

Written by: Samantha Ramirez-Herrera

“Spread the word.  Have you heard? All across the nation.  We are going to be a great generation.”

On Friday, January 13, 2017, 8-year-old Yolanda Renee King stood front and center before a crowd of schoolchildren in the sanctuary at The Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the very place where her grandfather, Martin Luther King Jr., once delivered messages of justice, love, unity and freedom.  She embodied the spirit of her grandfather, Martin Luther King Jr., as she urged them, in the call-and-response style of her Baptist preacher grandfather, to repeat after her the following pledge, “Spread the word. Have you heard? All across the nation.  We are going to be a great generation!”

Her youthful, passionate spirit and voice filled The Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church with hope, unity and love, the very things Dr. King inspired during the Civil Rights Movement.

Yolanda Renee was joined by her mother, Arndrea King, and father, Martin Luther King III, who read his children’s book, “My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” to the youngsters in the audience.  Friday’s event was held in observation of The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend and celebration of MLK’s 88th Birthday (January 15).

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King Jr.