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Top 15 Remarkable Facts about Shaun King

Have you ever come across someone who makes you want to dig deeper into their story? For me, Shaun King is one of those public figures.

As a social justice advocate and writer, King has led an extraordinary life filled with highs and lows. Like many agents of change, he has ruffled feathers and made mistakes, but also achieved great things.

Without giving away too much, I’m eager to provide a revealing look into King’s journey. Follow along as I highlight 15 remarkable facts about Shaun King’s background, activism, controversies, and more.

We will uncover little-known details and gain new appreciation for this complex man. From childhood hardships to emerging as a bold voice for equality, King’s tale is sure to fascinate.

Stay tuned as I spotlight key moments and share insights into what makes Shaun King’s story so compelling. This inside scoop will broaden our view of an influential figure.

1. He received his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia

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In his youth, Shaun King went to Huntertown Elementary and Woodford County High School.

He later attended Morehouse College, a prestigious private historically black college for men in Atlanta, where he majored in history. At Morehouse, King was elected Student Government Association president in 1999.

However, he had to take medical leave midway through his studies. When King returned to Morehouse after his leave, media mogul Oprah Winfrey named him an Oprah Winfrey Scholar.

Despite an interruption, King achieved notable accolades as a student leader during his time at the renowned Morehouse.

2. He received a master’s degree from Arizona State University

Shaun King obtained a master’s degree in history from Arizona State University in 2018, adding further academic credentials to his educational background.

After previously attending Morehouse College as an undergraduate, King pursued graduate studies at ASU. His Master of Arts degree in history reflects King’s passion for examining and contextualizing past events and social issues.

Furthering his education with a history master’s degree enabled King to strengthen his skills in historical analysis and interpretation, benefiting his public commentary on racial justice and civil rights.

3. King was a high school civics teacher for about a year and then worked in Atlanta’s juvenile justice system

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After completing his undergraduate education, Shaun King worked as a high school civics teacher for about one year. He then took a job in the juvenile justice system in Atlanta.

So early in his career after graduating college, King first tried his hand at teaching civics to high school students for a short stint. He soon shifted to focus on juvenile justice by taking a position in the Atlanta area’s juvenile system.

King’s first jobs out of college enabled him to work in roles centered on youth, education, government and criminal justice prior to embarking on activism.

4. He worked as a pastor at Total Grace Christian Center in DeKalb County, Georgia

Shaun King left his teaching career to become a pastor at Total Grace Christian Center in DeKalb County, Georgia.

His decision to enter the ministry was influenced by a significant experience during high school when, after being assaulted and while recovering from injuries, he was regularly visited by his best friend’s father, who was a pastor.

Reflecting on the impact of this father figure during a challenging time, King expressed a desire to emulate him, stating, “I just found myself so impacted by this man coming to visit me that I wanted to be like him.”

5. King founded a church in Atlanta in 2008 called Courageous Church – which he led for four years

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The 2008 year saw Shaun found a church in Atlanta named Courageous Church. He utilized social media like Facebook to recruit new members.

By 2012, Shaun stepped down from leading Courageous Church, citing personal stress and dissatisfaction as his reasons for leaving.

Over the course of 4 years, Shaun founded and built up a church community in Atlanta through modern technology before resigning from his role as pastor.

6. He co-founded the Real Justice PAC and led various Black Lives Matter initiatives

In 2018, Shaun King helped start the Real Justice PAC and launched The North Star website which was instrumental in the Black Lives Matter initiatives.

The goal of Real Justice PAC was to help elect prosecutors at the city and county levels who supported reforming the criminal justice system. The North Star site was created as a news media outlet.

Over the course of the year, King worked to promote change in the justice system through both political action and journalism – launching a PAC to support reform-minded candidates as well as an independent news source.

7. King has previously been a regular contributor to Daily Kos, the New York Daily News, and The Young Turks

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Shaun King has contributed as a writer to various politically progressive outlets including Daily Kos, New York Daily News, and The Young Turks. He began writing for Daily Kos in September 2014 as a regular blogger.

In October 2015, King was hired by the New York Daily News as a senior justice writer, reporting on topics like social justice, police brutality, and race. In December 2016, it was announced King would join The Young Turks as a political commentator.

However, he ended up leaving the New York Daily News that same year. Over the course of about 2 years, King took on roles writing for and commenting on progressive issues and politics for these three well-known liberal media outlets.

8. He was once known as “Facebook Pastor.”

In 2008, King established a church in Atlanta called Courageous Church.

To help build the new church, Shaun utilized social media platforms like Facebook to connect with potential new members, earning the nickname “Facebook Pastor” for his adept use of technology to grow the congregation.

However, by 2012 King decided to resign from leading Courageous Church, citing personal reasons such as stress and dissatisfaction.

Over the course of 4 years, Shaun founded and developed Courageous Church in Atlanta using modern social media outreach, but eventually left the church due to reported strain and discontentment in his leadership role there.

9. King has repeatedly faced accusations of fiscal mismanagement

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King has faced allegations of fiscal mismanagement on multiple occasions. Critics have raised concerns about the handling of funds in various initiatives and organizations associated with him, including accusations of misuse of donations and lack of transparency.

These claims have sparked controversies and debates within the public domain. While King has defended himself against these accusations, the issues surrounding financial management have persisted, contributing to ongoing scrutiny and skepticism within certain circles.

The controversies have brought attention to the need for accountability and transparency in financial matters related to King’s activities.

10. He has stated that he was the victim of racism and hate crimes while growing up in Kentucky

Shaun King has said he experienced racism and hate crimes growing up in Kentucky. He claims a group of youths once tried to run him over with a truck at school but faced no punishment after he reported it.

King also alleges that around a dozen “rednecks” severely beat him in a racially-motivated attack that caused spinal injuries requiring surgery and made him miss school.

In 2015 though, some media questioned his account, saying police records showed it was a one-on-one fight over a girl where King had minor injuries.

However, King’s wife and some former teachers and classmates posted on Facebook corroborating his version of events.

11. King has written extensively about his experiences as a biracial person

Shaun has written extensively about his experiences as a biracial person.

Through various mediums, including social media, articles, and his book “Make Change,” King has shared personal anecdotes and reflections on navigating the complexities of being biracial in America.

He has addressed issues related to racial identity, discrimination, and the challenges faced by individuals with mixed racial backgrounds.

King’s writings often contribute to larger discussions about race, social justice, and the ongoing struggle for equality, drawing on his own experiences to shed light on broader issues within the context of racial relations in the United States.

12. He launched the crowdfunded website The North Star in 2019

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In 2019, Shaun King started a crowdfunded website called The North Star, naming it after the historic anti-slavery newspaper and claiming he had support from Frederick Douglass’s relatives.

The site offered articles, podcasts, and videos for a subscription fee, covering social justice topics like police brutality and mass incarceration. However, The Daily Beast reported the site failed to deliver all the features promised during fundraising, like a daily broadcast and app.

King acknowledged he had been overly ambitious and should have listened when advisors said his plans were too grandiose.

Though The North Star aimed to revive the historic abolitionist paper, it struggled to fully execute the extensive services initially touted in its launch.

13. King is married with five children

King is a married father of five children. Three of his kids were conceived biologically with his wife, while two were adopted.

In addition to his own children, King has taken in foster kids, nieces, and nephews to live with his family at times. Between biological, adopted, foster, and extended family, King has parented a total of five children in his household over the years.

14. His advocacy has enacted policy changes for police body cameras, hate crime tracking, and more

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King’s advocacy efforts have played a role in pushing for policy changes, particularly in areas related to police accountability.

He has been a vocal proponent of police body cameras and has campaigned for their widespread adoption to increase transparency and accountability in law enforcement.

Additionally, King has advocated for improved hate crime tracking mechanisms, aiming to address and combat racially motivated crimes.

While his specific contributions to policy changes may be part of a larger collective effort, King has used his platform to highlight these issues and push for reforms, contributing to broader discussions on social justice and police reform.

15. King claimed to help secure the release of hostages following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel

 After Hamas attacked Israel in 2023 and took two American hostages, Shaun King stated he worked privately with Hamas to help free Natalie and Judith Raanan.

However, the Raanan family contradicted King’s claim, saying he lied about his role in the hostages’ release.

Additionally in 2023, King’s Instagram account was deactivated, which King attributed to his posts related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Despite King’s assertions that he assisted behind the scenes, the hostages’ family and Instagram’s actions indicate he overstated or fabricated his involvement in that tense situation.

The journey of Shaun King reveals the complexities of an outspoken figure. While controversial at times, his activism stems from personal experience with injustice.

The hardships faced fuel his drive to enact change. Though mistakes have been made along the way, King continuously works to improve society for future generations.

His voice provides insight often overlooked by the mainstream. Regardless of one’s opinion, Shaun King’s story shares an important perspective on issues facing our communities today. His ongoing efforts will continue impacting the path forward.