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Biography
BERNICE KING
Nationally and internationally known as one of the most powerful, motivating
and life-changing orators and speakers, Bernice A. King leaves her audiences
spellbound and challenged. Born the youngest daughter of Coretta Scott
King and the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bernice began her oratorical
journey when she spoke in her mother’s stead at the United Nations
at age 17. Over the years, Bernice has had the occasion to speak in such
places as The White House, DuPont Corp., Warner-Lambert Corporation, AT&T,
Lockheed/Martin, DIA, University of Toledo, Xavier University, University
of North Carolina, Duke University, Pepperdine University, Department
of Defense, Salvation Army, and in such places as Sydney, Australia, Lubock,
Germany, Argentina, S. America to name a few. In the Summer of 2000, Bernice
narrated the “Lincoln Portrait” along with a symphony
orchestra in Keil, Germany at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. Comments,
like those below, from audiences around the world reflect how Bernice’s
speeches have changed their drive and outlook on life:
- It was awesome, dynamic, thrilling and mentally provocative. This
is a start of a revolutionary move in my life. It was truly a privilege
for a Bahamian to hear, touch and feel the daughter of a legend. This
day will remain with me forever.
- I was revitalized and reenergized to keep up the fight.
- Dynamic! Real! Thought Provoking! Life Changing! Powerful! On Time!
Rev. King was wonderful. Words cannot adequately describe how her words
touched our lives. She brought a powerful word to the people of Pittsburgh.
- Her message had a lot of application and reality to it. It challenged,
touched, and motivated me in ways I didn’t expect.
- King’s words helped me to become less judgmental and close-minded.
- King’s talk motivated me to take up the gauntlet and challenge
and motivate others.
Bernice is a graduate of Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree
in Psychology, and Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Law Degrees from
Emory University. She has also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity
Degree from Wesley College. She is currently a member of the State Bar
of Georgia and has received training in mediation.
With a strong concern for community and family partnership, Bernice was
privileged to serve as a law clerk in the Fulton County Juvenile Court
system, under Judge Glenda Hatchett, where she interacted with troubled
boys and girls. It was there that she realized that a growing number of
teens have been double victims: first of society and secondly of an ineffective
legal system based in retribution instead of rehabilitation. Bernice has
also served as a mentor to a group of 5th grade girls at an inner-city
Atlanta elementary school, where she spent time molding their character
and values, that one day they too would become a force to be reckoned
with in the world. Among other community activities and services, she
was instrumental in organizing coalitions to close a pornographic shop
located within a mile of a local High School. She also assisted The Dow
Company in building a Habitat for Humanity home in Americus, Georgia.
As an ordained preacher, Bernice is the Assistant to the Pastor at “The
Love Center” at Greater Rising Star Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to being a speaker/orator/preacher, Bernice has planned and
organized numerous conferences, seminars and workshops for all walks of
life. She has successfully coordinated nonviolent conflict resolution
conferences for college and university students and women and family conferences;
she has conducted a class on race relations at Mississippi College in
Jackson, MS and taught a year-long leadership development class at her
church. Cited in Ebony Magazine as one of the “Ten of Tomorrow”
in leadership, she is actually a strong leader of today.
Bernice has been featured on such shows as, Oprah, Montel, Rolonda,
Late Night with Tom Snyder, Eye-to-Eye with Connie Chung,
BET Talk with Tavis Smiley, to name a few and in such magazines as
People Magazine, Ebony, Essence, Ladies Home Journal and Charisma Magazine.
She has also guest hosted a live lunchtime television show on CNN.
As an author, Bernice has to her credit, her first book, Hard Questions,
Heart Answers, a compelling and inspiring book selected by USA Today
as a “Best Bet.”
Diverse, challenging, captivating, relevant and powerful are a few words
that describe Bernice A. King, a woman gifted to change the lives of those
who come into contact with her.
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