Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of the renowned civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has passed away following a battle with prostate cancer.
The King Center shared this somber news on Monday, revealing that Dexter had been privately dealing with the illness. His wife, Leah Weber King, was by his side at the time of his passing in Malibu. She shared, “He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu.” The exact timeline of Dexter’s diagnosis remains unknown, but his death marks him as the second of MLK’s children to pass away since their father’s assassination in 1968.
Yolanda King, the first of MLK’s children to die, passed away in 2007 due to complications from ovarian cancer and other health issues. Now, Dexter’s death leaves Martin Luther King III and Bernice King as the surviving siblings.
Dexter was known for carrying on his father’s legacy in the fight for civil rights well into the 21st century. He notably confronted James Earl Ray, the man convicted of assassinating Dr. King, directly asking him if he was responsible for the murder. Ray denied it, and Dexter expressed belief in his innocence, suggesting that the federal government might have been involved in orchestrating his father’s assassination.
In addition to his activism, Dexter also portrayed his father in the 2002 TV movie ‘The Rosa Parks Story.’ His physical resemblance to Dr. King was often a point of discussion.
Dexter Scott King was 62 years old at the time of his death.
RIP.
