Dexter Scott King, the third child of the renowned civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday following a courageous struggle with prostate cancer, as announced by the King Center.
At 62 years old, King bore the name of an Alabama church where his father served as a pastor and experienced the tragic loss of his iconic father at the young age of 7 in 1968, during the tumultuous period of the Civil Rights Movement. Despite this early tragedy, King pursued higher education at Morehouse College in Atlanta and later played significant roles as the chairman of the King Center and president of the King Estate. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to preserving his father’s legacy and safeguarding the intellectual property left by the civil rights icon, according to the King Center.
The unexpected news of Dexter King’s passing has left his family in profound grief, with Martin Luther King III expressing the difficulty of finding appropriate words in such a moment. “The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this,” he conveyed in a statement. “Please keep the entire King family in your prayers.”
Dexter King, in his role as an influential figure in civil rights activism, notably spoke at a news conference in Atlanta in 1994. His commitment to upholding the principles and ideals championed by his father was evident throughout his life, as he engaged in efforts to continue the work of the Civil Rights Movement.
His passing marks another profound loss for the King family, following the deaths of his mother, Coretta Scott King, in 2006, and his sister, Yolanda King, in 2007. “Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling,” shared the Rev. Bernice A. King, Dexter King’s sister, in a poignant statement.
Dexter King’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality in the United States. His contributions to the King Center and his commitment to protecting his father’s intellectual property have played crucial roles in preserving the rich history and ideals of the Civil Rights Movement.
As the King family and the broader community mourn the loss of Dexter Scott King, the impact of his dedication to his father’s legacy will undoubtedly resonate for years to come. The King Center, which stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., will continue to honor and perpetuate the ideals that both father and son tirelessly championed in the pursuit of justice, equality, and freedom.