1957

January 27th
An unexploded bomb is found on the front porch of the King's home.

February
Dr. King is elected President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

February 18th
Time magazine features Dr. King on its front cover.

May 17th
Dr. King gives a speech entitled "Give us the Ballot" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to celebrate the third anniversary of the Supreme Court's desegregation decision.

June 13th
Dr. King holds a conference with the Vice President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon.

October 23rd
A second child, Martin Luther III is born to Dr. and Mrs. King.

1958

September 3rd
Dr. King is released on $100 bond after being arrested for loitering - although this was later changed to failure to obey an officer.

September 4th
Dr. King is convicted after pleading "not guilty" to the charge of failure to obey an officer. Montgomery Police Commissioner, Clyde C. Sellers, paid the fine, whilst Dr. King objected.

September 17th
Publication of Dr. King's book "Stride towards Freedom"

September 20th
Dr. King is stabbed in the chest whilst autographing copies of his book in Harlem by forty two year old Mrs. Izola Curry. His condition was serious, not critical.

1959

January 30th
Dr. King meets President of the United Auto Workers Union, Walter Reuther, in Detroit.

February 2nd - March 10th
Dr. and Mrs. King spend time in India as guests of Prime Minister Nehru, studying the non-violence teachings of Ghandi.

1960

January 24th
The King family relocates to Atlanta, where Dr. King becomes co-pastor with his father, of the Ebenezer Baptist Church.

February 17th
An arrest warrant is issued for Dr. King's arrest on charges that he had falsified his 1956 and 1958 Alabama state income tax returns.

May 28th
Dr. King is acquitted of the tax evasion charge.

June 24th
Dr. King has a conference with John F. Kennedy, candidate for President of the United States regarding racial issues.

October 19th
Dr. King is arrested on a charge of violating the state's trespass law, whilst at an Atlanta sit-in.

October 22nd - 27th
The demonstrators are released except for Dr. King, who is held on a charge of violating a probated sentence in a traffic arrest case. He is transferred to Reidsville State Prison, then later released on a $2000 bond.