Dexter Scott King, son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, dies at 62 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Dexter Scott King, the second son of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, passed away at the age of 62 after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. The King Center in Atlanta confirmed his death, stating that Dexter Scott King transitioned peacefully in his sleep at his home in Malibu.
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Who was Dexter Scott King?
Born on January 30, 1961, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dexter was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father had served as pastor. His early life was marked by the tragic assassination of his father in 1968, leaving Dexter, at the age of seven, to continue his journey with the support of his family.
Dexter Scott King devoted his adult life to preserving his father’s legacy and advocating for civil rights. As chairman of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, he played a pivotal role in steering the institution. His commitment extended to environmental and animal rights causes, as he embraced a dedicated vegan lifestyle since the late 1980s.
Despite controversies, including legal disputes within the King family, Dexter remained focused on his mission to safeguard his father’s legacy. His contributions extended beyond activism, as he portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2002 television movie The Rosa Parks Story and voiced his father’s character in the 1999 educational film, Our Friend, Martin.
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Dexter Scott King’s passing on January 22, 2024, leaves a void in the civil rights movement and marks the end of an era for the King family. His wife, Leah Weber King, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and described Dexter’s battle against prostate cancer as one faced with bravery and might. Dexter is survived by his wife and his siblings, Martin Luther King III, Bernice King, and the late Yolanda King.
