Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has passed away at 62 following a battle with prostate cancer. According to a statement from the King Center, King died yesterday at his home in California. "He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu," his wife, Leah Weber King, shared in a sentiment echoed by BBC.
Carrying on a his parent's legacy, Dexter served as chairman of The King Center and president of the King Estate, roles that saw him fiercely guarding the intellectual property and heritage left behind by his father. The King family has called for privacy during this difficult time and plans to address the media during a press conference at The King Center's Yolanda D. King Theatre inside Freedom Hall, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Following his father's footsteps, Dexter attended the historic Morehouse College in Atlanta. While he initially pursued a career in acting, evident when he portrayed his father in the 2002 television movie "The Rosa Parks Story," his commitment to his family's historical significance took precedence. King's uncanny resemblance to his father was noted by the King Center, as reported by BBC.
Leah Weber King, Dexter's wife of 11 years and a former broadcast journalist, entrepreneur, and consultant, spoke of her late husband's courage in face of disease. Family reactions have been pouring in, with King's sister Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King expressing an immense heartbreak at the loss, while his brother, Martin Luther King III, revealed the "sudden shock is devastating," in statements obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. Tributes have continued to flow, with civil rights leader Rev Al Sharpton sending condolences and commemorating Dexter's commitment to his father's legacy, as captured by BBC.
Representatives of Atlanta and Georgia's political and civic communities, including Atlanta Council member Michael Julian Bond and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, have joined in mourning the loss and celebrating Dexter King's life and contributions to civil rights activism. The Georgia NAACP and the Atlanta NAACP, in a statement cited by FOX 5 Atlanta, spoke of Dexter Scott King's legacy, affirming his commitment to the ongoing battle for social justice and equality that his parents so fervently fought for.
The King family has announced that details regarding a memorial service will be released at a later date. King was predeceased by his father in 1968, his mother Coretta Scott King in 2006, and his sister Yolanda in 2007. Alongside his widow, Leah Weber King, he is survived by his sister, Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, his brother, Martin Luther King III, and his niece, Yolanda Renee King.
