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Is This Viral List of 'Four Things You Didn't Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.' True?
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we compiled a collection of our stories about the late civil rights leader.
by Snopes Staff , July 19, 2003
Image courtesy of Gene Herrick/AP FIle via Wikimedia Commons
The federal holiday celebrating the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was observed on the third Monday in January 2026, despite the National Park Service removing the holiday from its list of free-entry days in late November 2025.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 15, 1929, King dedicated his life to achieving equality and justice for all Americans. He championed the idea that peacefully refusing to obey unjust laws was the best way to combat racism and bring about social change.
During his memorable but brief lifetime, King pressed the case for civil rights with the White House, touched millions of Americans with his unforgettable "I Have a Dream" speech and won the Nobel Peace Prize, leaving behind a legacy of hope and inspiration.
Even as the enduring power of his work remains evident, King has been the subject of rumors and misinformation over the years.
Below is a collection of
By Snopes Staff
Did MLK Say 'Our Lives Begin to End the Day We Become Silent'?
Jan. 16, 2017
An oft-quoted statement attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. appears to have been paraphras ...
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Did the FBI Send MLK a Letter Telling Him To Kill Himself?
Jan. 25, 2022
The anonymous letter purported to reveal secrets about Martin Luther King Jr.’s sex life.
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Charlie Kirk called Martin Luther King Jr. 'awful'
Sept. 12, 2025
The Turning Point USA co-founder and conservative commentator was fatally shot while speaking at ...
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Was the U.S. Government Found Guilty of Assassinating Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Jan. 20, 2014
Conspiracy theorists hold that the United States government was sued and found culpable for the ...
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MLK Once Said, 'We Need Leaders Not in Love With Money But in Love With Justice'
Jan. 23, 2025
The civil rights leader expressed the sentiment in numerous speeches.
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Did Barack Obama Meet with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.?
March 7, 2017
A photograph showing an adult Barack Obama with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. is chronol ...
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Audio of MLK Endorsing Trump Is Deepfake
Nov. 5, 2024
According to the recording, King said Trump "did more for the Black community than any other pre ...
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Did MLK Say 'Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness; Only Light Can Do That'?
Jan. 21, 2024
The late Rev. King is frequently misquoted on the internet, and, as always, we're here to clear ...
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Is Rapper Meek Mill the Grandson of Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Aug. 6, 2015
Rumors that the musician is directly related to the civil rights icon come from a site that only ...
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Did Martin Luther King Jr. Pay the Hospital Bill for Julia Roberts' Birth?
Feb. 4, 2023
The Oscar-winning actress has a special connection to MLK and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
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Did Kamala Harris Plagiarize Martin Luther King Jr.?
Jan. 7, 2021
A 2020 Elle interview with the vice president-elect carries some similarities to a 1965 Playboy ...
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Is MLK's 'Disobey Unjust Laws' Quote Real?
Jan. 17, 2023
The genuine quote often appears in memes on social media.
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Was Trump's Jan. 6 Crowd Bigger Than for MLK's 'I Have a Dream' Speech?
Aug. 9, 2024
According to the National Park Service, the March on Washington in August 1963 drew an estimated ...
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Is This Samuel L. Jackson with MLK at a Pool Hall?
Jan. 26, 2022
This is a genuine photo of Martin Luther King Jr., but the man wearing shades in the background ...
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No, George Santos Didn't Tweet That MLK Encouraged Him To Run for Congress
Jan. 14, 2023
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, 20 years before Rep. George Santos was born.
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Did Trump Claim on Truth Social that He Marched with MLK?
Jan. 16, 2024
"I marched with King and he didn't mind that I was white," the purported post read. "I have a ho ...
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Did MLK Say This About Capitalism?
Jan. 20, 2020
Quote: "Since we know that the system will not change the rules, we're going to have to change t ...
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Was MLK Smothered in His Hospital Bed?
July 21, 2020
Questions and speculation may always surround the assassination of Dr. King, but this is not a c ...
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Real Pic of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King?
Sept. 21, 2024
The photo shows the pair wearing green outfits and smiling.
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Did Biden Say George Floyd's Death Had Greater 'Worldwide Impact' Than MLK's?
April 7, 2021
Remarks attributed to U.S. President Joe Biden saw a resurgence in social media sharing in April ...
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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Request for a Gun Permit Was Denied?
June 24, 2024
Posts say the civil rights icon wanted the ability to carry a weapon after his home was firebomb ...
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Is This a Picture of Martin Luther King and a Police Dog Used to Intimidate Him?
Jan. 22, 2019
Man's best friend, or police intimidation tactic?
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Does This Video Prove Martin Luther King Was a Republican?
Jan. 23, 2019
The civil rights icon was never a vocal advocate of either major political party, both of which ...
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Misspelled Martin Luther King Day Signs
Jan. 28, 2008
A photograph from a 2007 Corpus Christi TV station news report shows Martin Luther King Day cele ...
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Martin Luther King Stamp
June 7, 2000
Is the U.S. Postal Service discontinuing the Martin Luther King stamp?
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Is This Viral List of 'Four Things You Didn't Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.' True?
July 19, 2003
You probably didn't know most of them because they're not true.
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