Born on May 25, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia to Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King. Yolanda Renee King is the sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She was named in honor of her aunt, Yolanda Denise King, who died a little more than a year before she was born.
As a young activist, Yolanda has earned the respect and admiration of her generation for her outspoken support of the ongoing work to fulfill the great dream her grandfather shared with America. At just 16-years-old, Yolanda has taken to inspiring her peers to follow in the legacy of her grandparents, following her parents in their work to realize the dream.
She has passionately addressed mass gatherings in protests against gun violence, homelessness and inhumane treatment of refugees seeking asylum on the U.S. southern border. When she met with President Obama in the oval office, Yolanda Renee asked him, “Mr. President, what are you going to do about all of these guns?”
In an effort to empower young people to use their voice for good, Yolanda has made a splash on the national scene. In 2018, Yolanda spoke at the March for our Lives Rally in Washington, D.C. at just 9 years old, telling the crowd of thousands “I have a dream that enough is enough.” In June 2022, following the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Yolanda published a column in The Washington Post calling on her generation to stand up against gun violence. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, NBC News, ABC News, and other national media outlets to help carry on the mission her grandfather gave his life for so many years ago.
Although both of her parents are energetic social reform activists, they have encouraged her to follow her heart in choosing a career, while being a caring and compassionate person. Yolanda Renee has chosen to become a life-long human rights activist in her own right, while leaving open options for pursuing her own career and interests. In a recent interview, Yolanda Renee noted that she had a dream in which her grandfather appeared. When asked how she interpreted the purpose of her dream, she responded “to remember that he is always with me.” In 2023, Yolanda joined her parents in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington. At the March, Yolanda declared “my generation will be defined by action, not apathy.”
