Yolanda R. King

Yolanda R. King
Yolanda R. King
	King in 2023
Born	Yolanda Renee King; May 25, 2008 (age 18); Atlanta, Georgia, U.S
Education	Atlanta International School
Occupations	Activist; Author;
Parents	Martin Luther King III (father); Arndrea Waters King (mother);

Yolanda Renee King (born May 25, 2008) is an American activist, author and the only grandchild of Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Atlanta, she became an activist at 13, addressing an end to gun violence within the United States in 2018, and publishing a book dedicated to her grandfather.^[1]

Early life and education

Yolanda King was born on May 25, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia to parents Martin Luther King III, the son of Martin Luther King Jr, and Arndrea Waters King.^[2]^[3] She was named after her aunt with the same name in honor of her.^[4]

She graduated from the Atlanta International School in Spring 2026, and will enroll in Columbia University.^{[citation needed]} King became immersed in activism growing up.^[5]

Career

In 2018, she spoke up at a March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., about ending gun violence,^[6]^[7]^[8] where she would continue in August 2020.^[9] In May 2022, Yolanda posted on The Washington Post about her generation standing up to gun violence and putting an end to it.^[10]

At age 14, she gave a well-received 30 minute speech at Clemson University in which she cited her grandfather's legacy while urging her generation to take action on social issues even if they are still too young to vote.^[11] In 2023, she addressed a crowd during the 60th Anniversary of the Washington March and declared that her generation would be "defined by action, not apathy".^[12]

We Dream a World

In January 2024, she published a children's book called We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents. The book focused on King's grandfather and his contributions.^[13] The book was created in favor of young people creating a "better world".^[14]

References

↑ Eaglin, Maya (January 15, 2022). "How MLK's 13-year-old granddaughter thinks you should spend the holiday". NBC News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
↑ "Yolanda Renee King". The WOW Foundation. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ "First Grandchild in Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Born". WFMY News. May 26, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ Zimmerman, Karl; et al. (May 26, 2008), "First MLK grandchild born", CNN, archived from the original on June 4, 2008, retrieved May 26, 2008, The girl carries the first name of her father's sister, the oldest of the four King children, who died last year.
↑ Franklin, McKinnley (January 5, 2025). "Meet Martin Luther King Jr.'s Only Grandchild Yolanda Renee King! All About the Young Activist (and Why She Still Feels His 'Presence' Despite Never Meeting)". People.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
↑ "Exclusive: Yolanda Renee King, Sole Grandchild Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Celebrates Cotillion Debut". Essence. April 1, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ Kindelan, Katie (April 4, 2018). "Martin Luther King Jr.'s granddaughter reflects 50 years after his assassination: 'We're not where we're supposed to be'". ABC News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
↑ Adone, Dakin (March 25, 2018). "Martin Luther King's granddaughter has a dream, too - where enough is enough". CNN. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
↑ "MLK's granddaughter: We will fulfill my grandfather's dream". CNN Politics. August 28, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
↑ King, Yolanda Renee (May 30, 2022). "Yolanda Renee King: My generation has to stand up against gun violence". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ Scar, Ken (January 19, 2023). "Martin Luther King Jr.'s only grandchild, Yolanda Renee King, gives stirring keynote speech at Clemson". Clemson News. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ "Yolanda Renee King". Nobel Peace Prize (in Norwegian). November 30, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ "Author Talk with Yolanda Renee King - We Dream A World". PBS Books. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
↑ McNamee, Kai (January 15, 2024). "The 15-year-old granddaughter of MLK Jr. wants to start a revolution around service". NPR. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[1] Eaglin, Maya (January 15, 2022). "How MLK's 13-year-old granddaughter thinks you should spend the holiday". NBC News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

[2] "Yolanda Renee King". The WOW Foundation. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[3] "First Grandchild in Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Born". WFMY News. May 26, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[CNN1-4] Zimmerman, Karl; et al. (May 26, 2008), "First MLK grandchild born", CNN, archived from the original on June 4, 2008, retrieved May 26, 2008, The girl carries the first name of her father's sister, the oldest of the four King children, who died last year.

[5] Franklin, McKinnley (January 5, 2025). "Meet Martin Luther King Jr.'s Only Grandchild Yolanda Renee King! All About the Young Activist (and Why She Still Feels His 'Presence' Despite Never Meeting)". People.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

[6] "Exclusive: Yolanda Renee King, Sole Grandchild Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Celebrates Cotillion Debut". Essence. April 1, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[7] Kindelan, Katie (April 4, 2018). "Martin Luther King Jr.'s granddaughter reflects 50 years after his assassination: 'We're not where we're supposed to be'". ABC News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

[8] Adone, Dakin (March 25, 2018). "Martin Luther King's granddaughter has a dream, too - where enough is enough". CNN. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

[9] "MLK's granddaughter: We will fulfill my grandfather's dream". CNN Politics. August 28, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

[10] King, Yolanda Renee (May 30, 2022). "Yolanda Renee King: My generation has to stand up against gun violence". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[11] Scar, Ken (January 19, 2023). "Martin Luther King Jr.'s only grandchild, Yolanda Renee King, gives stirring keynote speech at Clemson". Clemson News. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[12] "Yolanda Renee King". Nobel Peace Prize (in Norwegian). November 30, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[13] "Author Talk with Yolanda Renee King - We Dream A World". PBS Books. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

[14] McNamee, Kai (January 15, 2024). "The 15-year-old granddaughter of MLK Jr. wants to start a revolution around service". NPR. Retrieved May 12, 2026.

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v t e Coretta Scott King
April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006
Life	Childhood and education Civil rights movement 1959 tour of India 1967 San Francisco anti-war march King Center for Nonviolent Social Change 2004 Gandhi Peace Prize Death and funeral
Other	Martin Luther King Jr. Day King v. Trustees of Boston Univ.
Reaction	Recognition and tributes
Namesakes	Coretta Scott King Award Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy
Family	Martin Luther King Jr. (husband) Yolanda King (daughter) Martin Luther King III (son) Dexter King (son) Bernice King (daughter) Yolanda R. King (granddaughter) Edythe Scott Bagley (sister)
Depictions	King (1978 miniseries) Our Friend, Martin (1999 animated) Betty & Coretta (2013 film) Selma (2014 film) The Embrace (2023 statue) Rustin (2023 film)
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