LibGuide: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.       January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968

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The Meaning of Martin Luther King Jr. Day   A day to reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., his birthday celebrates the accomplishments of the civil rights movement in overcoming discrimination and promoting equality. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January. It became a national holiday 15 years after King was assassinated. An advocate of nonviolence, King died from a violent act. Although established in 1983, it was not universally celebrated until 2000. Five presidents provide their input into the holiday and the civil rights movement. Investigate freedom songs and writings about the African-American experience. http://www.whatsoproudlywehail.org

Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement   One of the most significant figures of the civil rights movement is Martin Luther King Jr. The list of honors he has received is nearly endless and this report discusses the actions and victories that took place under his leadership, the opposition Martin Luther King Jr. faced, and his assassination. You will be asked to think about the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement and examine two key events. These events and more background information can be found along with a timeline of events. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Nobel Peace Prize 1964: Martin Luther King, Jr.   Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential leader for civil rights movements. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement. Here you can find a biography on him as well as a copy of the presentation speech for the Nobel Peace Prize. There is also a video clip available of the event. http://www.nobelprize.org

Writings and speechs

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham City Jail   On Easter in 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote about just and unjust laws and the moral responsibility of the people. His famous Letter from Birmingham City Jail was written on the margins of newspapers and smuggled out of his cell. Eight white clergymen had criticized King's actions, and King was determined to respond to their accusations. This letter became a manifesto of the civil rights movement and spread around the world after being translated into forty languages. It helped defeat Jim Crow laws and apartheid. It was read in Eastern Europe, Argentina, Palestine, and Tiananmen Square. http://www.historynet.com

I Have A Dream Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.   A quarter of a million people gathered in August of 1963 to listen to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. give a speech at the Lincoln Memorial. His speech has become one of the most famous speeches in American history. I Have a Dream spoke about equality and freedom for African Americans. The speech was part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom during the civil rights movement. Mister Maestro and Twentieth Century Fox recorded the speech to sell recordings, resulting in a copyright infringement suit. http://www.archives.gov

The Meaning of The King Holiday   Who better to explain the true meaning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday than his wife, Coretta Scott King? This timeless article written for The King Center captures the essence of Dr. King and his message of nonviolence, unconditional love and tolerance. She also talks of her husband's courage in the face of repeated harassment, threats and beatings during his fight for freedom. Mrs. King urges you to honor her husband's legacy, not only by remembrance and tribute, but through active service to those in need. Visit this web site to learn more ways to commemorate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.thekingcenter.org          

           

The King Center        The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial          National Civil Rights  Museum           

Civil Rights Glossary
Every possible word or term clearly explained.  Timeline, too.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Remembered   Three witnesses to the famous I Have a Dream Speech tell about that day. One is now a congressman. What surprised him most was the peacefulness of the March on Washington. A history professor said the atmosphere was tense before the march, but then seemed more like a church picnic. A journalist describes how the streets were empty out of fear, but the atmosphere was transformed by hope. Learn about this inspiring and prophetic speech as King challenged Americans to be true to American documents. The president agreed to meet with him and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Topic: King, Martin Luther, Jr. -- I have a dream   Language: English   Lexile: 960  Audio     http://www.pbs.org