Coretta Scott King and the Story of the Coretta Scott King Award

Coretta Scott King grew up in the Jim Crow South, a place where even a trip to the ice cream shop was a reminder that she wasn t an equal citizen. She dreamed of being a singer, and attended colleges where she was a minority. When she met Martin Luther King Jr., her life changed. While he became famous for his civil rights efforts, Coretta did her part organizing, giving speeches, and enduring dangerous harassment. Her house was even bombed. After her husband s death she continued working in his memory fighting social injustice. The Coretta Scott King Award honors her work and celebrates the best works by African-American writers and illustrators for young people.