Lawrence, the fourth of six children, was born in Frankfurt, West Germany (now Germany) on April 16, 1965, to African American parents serving in the U.S. military in Germany at the time of Martin's birth.He was named after civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. , and U.S. President John F. Kennedy.awrence, the fourth of six children, was born in Frankfurt, West Germany (now Germany) on April 16, 1965, to African American parents serving in the U.S. military in Germany at the time of Martin's birth. He was named after civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. , and U.S. President John F. Kennedy.