Yolanda King, the eldest child of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, was a bold African-American activist and actor who continued her father’s legacy and contributed to positive social change. With her public speaking, acting, and writing skills, Yolanda advocated for equal rights and focused on societal issues such as teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and racial discrimination. Despite the tragic assassination of her father, Yolanda exhibited a calm demeanor and understood her purpose in life. As a teen leader, she was featured in prominent journals and left a lasting impact before her untimely death in 2007 due to a chronic heart condition.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Yolanda Denise King
- Died At Age: 51
- Family:
- Father: Martin Luther King Jr.
- Mother: Coretta Scott King
- Siblings: Bernice King, Dexter Scott King, Martin Luther King III
- Born Country: United States
- Voice Actresses
- Civil Rights Activists
- Died on: May 15, 2007
- Place of Death: Santa Monica, California, United States
- Cause of Death: Chronic Heart Condition
- U.S. State: Alabama
- City: Montgomery, Alabama
- More Facts:
- Education: New York University, Smith College
Childhood & Early Life
Yolanda Denise King was born on November 17, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama. She grew up with her younger sister, Bernice, and her two brothers, Dexter Scott and Martin Luther King III. Yolanda was nicknamed “Yoki” by her brother Jr. King. Since her father was often traveling, Yolanda and her siblings were primarily raised by her mother, Coretta. Yolanda experienced racism and threats from a young age due to her race.
Education and Career
Yolanda developed a passion for acting at a young age. She joined an Atlanta-based children’s theater group and decided to pursue a career in acting. She attended Spring Street Elementary School and Grady High School. Yolanda received a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and studied theater at New York University. She also received an honorary doctorate degree from Marywood University.
Following the assassination of her father in 1968, Yolanda became a prominent activist, continuing his work in the civil rights movement.
Acting and Activism
Yolanda began her acting career in 1978, portraying Rosa Parks in the miniseries “King.” She also participated in stage performances as part of her social activism. Yolanda co-founded the theater company Nucleus with Attallah Shabazz, the daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X. Their goal was to present the thoughts and beliefs of their fathers through plays.
Yolanda appeared in various productions, including the musical composition “New Morning for the World” and the film “Hopscotch” and TV movie “Death of a Prophet.” She also portrayed Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X’s wife, in a TV movie.
Yolanda was arrested in 1984 for protesting against South African apartheid. She served on the board of directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and was the founding director of the cultural section of the center. Yolanda continued to perform in plays and films that honored her father’s legacy.
Later Life and Activism
Yolanda appeared in several TV productions in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including “America’s Dream,” “Our Friend, Martin,” and “Selma, Lord, Selma.” She also promoted shows and published a book celebrating common humanity.
Yolanda was an advocate for gay rights and spoke at events supporting equal rights for homosexuals. She was involved in various organizations, including the American Stroke Association, Habitat for Humanity, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Family and Personal Life
Yolanda’s mother passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006. Before her death, Yolanda and her brother Dexter had conflicts with their other siblings over the sale of the King Center. Yolanda died on May 15, 2007, at the age of 51, after her heart collapsed.
In the 2013 TV movie “Betty and Coretta,” actors Melina Nzeza and Ronda Louis-Jeune portrayed Yolanda’s young and adult versions, respectively.