Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was the leading voice of the American Civil Rights Movement, which fought for equal rights for all. He was famous for using nonviolent resistance to overcome injustice, and he never tired of trying to end segregation laws (laws that prevented Black people from entering certain places, such as restaurants, hotels, and public schools). In 1964, King was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., to be called the Poor People's Campaign, when he was assassinated at the age of just 39 years on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. His birthday is now observed as a national holiday on the third Monday in January. Image Credit: Mural at Martin Luther King High School, 6100 Stenton Ave, Philadelphia, PA

Links

13 Places Where Martin Luther King Jr. Left His Mark in Philadelphia
Take a trip through history and retrace Martin Luther King, Jr. steps through Philadelphia, from beginnings just outside of the city in Chester, where he attended the now-closed Crozer Theological Seminary, throughout the sixties when he gave speeches at local universities and churches, to his visit of mentor Reverend J. Pius Barbour at Calvary Baptist Church in Chester.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks in West Philadelphia in 1965
CBS Philadelphia presents archival footage of Dr. King's historic speech at 40th Street and Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia. More than 10,000 people came to see Dr. King speak on August 3, 1965. This was part of Dr. King's "Freedom Now" tour.
Fun Facts on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for Kids
Celebrate Black History with a mini biography on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for kids. Here's a cool way to start the conversation for elementary school, junior, and high school students on an iconic Civil Rights leader.
Learning and Living the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The National Education Association provides lesson plans, activity ideas, and other resources for teaching students about Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend: Things to Do in Philadelphia
Every year, Philadelphia honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of giving back as well as fun activities across the city. View this year's activities and events.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech
This speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, in which King called for an end to racism in the United States and called for civil and economic rights.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Philadelphia Connections
This timeline presents the arc of Philadelphia in King's life and shows connections between King's Southern strategy and Northern supporters, particularly in the African American community. This timeline was compiled for the Octavius V. Catto Education Project.
Newly Discovered 1964 Dr. King Speech on Civil Rights, Segregation, and Apartheid in South Africa
In a Democracy Now! and Pacifica Radio Archives exclusive, a newly discovered recording of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On December 7, 1964, days before he received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, where he gave a major address in London on segregation, the fight for civil rights, and his support for Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.
The Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service
The Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the largest King Day event in the nation, promotes year-round volunteer service and civic engagement.