Celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learn more about the iconic civil rights leader and his lasting legacy.
Published on January 4, 2024
The Atlantic4 min read
Martin Luther King Jr. Changed a Nation in Only 13 Years
Martin Luther King Jr. was just 26 when he came to prominence, by leading a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. He was only 39 when he was killed.
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. accomplished an astonishing amount in his 39 years. The indispensable timeline laid out in this article from The Atlantic provides a concise but detailed snapshot of King’s life and impact. Get up to speed quickly with this essential primer.
Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63
Taylor BranchThis Pulitzer Prize winner is the first part of Taylor Branch’s renowned trilogy on the life of Dr. King. It’s considered one of the most definitive and thorough accounts of the civil rights movement. If you want to really dig past what you learned in school and what you saw in “Selma,” start here.
Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution
Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution
Diane McWhorterExperience a watershed moment in the civil rights era with this Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the cataclysmic “Year of Birmingham.” In 1963, Dr. King led nonviolent demonstrations, in which peaceful protestors were met with fire hoses and police dogs. See how the dramatic events helped topple segregation.
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Martin Luther King, Jr.“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” After his arrest for leading peaceful protests against racial segregation, Dr. King wrote this landmark missive from a Birmingham jail cell in 1963. Eloquent, powerful, and as relevant as ever, it is widely considered one of the most impactful documents from the Civil Rights movement. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a must read for those who wish to actively contribute to a more just society.
I Have a Dream
Martin Luther KingCommemorate MLK Day with one of history’s most powerful speeches, given by one of its greatest orators. Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the nation’s capital in 1963, calling for an end to racism — a message as urgent today as it was almost 60 years ago. Listen to his moving address in its glorious entirety, with a moving introduction by poet Amanda Gorman.
Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation
Clarence B. JonesBelieve it or not, the “I Have a Dream” speech was partially improvised, according to Jones, one of Dr. King’s lawyers and personal advisors. See how this history-making speech took shape with a first-hand account from one of Dr. King’s closest confidants, who provides insights that biographers often omit.
King: Pilgrimage to the Mountaintop
Harvard SitkoffSitkoff offers an in-depth and balanced portrayal of not only Dr. King’s many accomplishments, but also his struggles and flaws. “King” serves as a poignant reminder that when we fail to recognize Dr. King’s defeats, we fail to acknowledge the progress that is yet to be made to this day. Dr. King’s beliefs in racial and economic justice remain as relevant in present times as they were when his life was cut tragically short.
Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Struggle That Changed a Nation
Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Struggle That Changed a Nation
Jonathan Rieder“Gospel of Freedom” dives into the historical and social context of Dr. King’s famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Rieder adds textual analysis and insight as he pivots between Dr. King’s words and the concurrent issues in Birmingham. He also articulates the complexity of Dr. King’s role in the Civil Rights era and the tension he faced as leader of a nonviolent movement in contrast with those who favored a more militant approach.
What Would Martin Say?
Clarence B. JonesWritten by a friend and confidant of Dr. King, this personal account of the civil rights icon reveals the person behind the legend. Timely and insightful, it shows how relevant King’s ideas remain today in our current divisive times.
We Celebrate the REAL MLK Day
Still ProcessingOn this episode of their “Still Processing” podcast, New York Times culture writers Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris take a look not just at the impact of Dr. King’s life, but also the impact of his assassination and how it continues to reverberate today.
Raising King: poems
Joseph Ross“It’s possible there has never been a more timely poetry project than Joseph Ross’ ‘Raising King’ … using epigraphs from books by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and authorized by his estate, Ross guides a reader on the powerful road of civil rights witness and awareness,” writes Naomi Shihab Nye in a review for The New York Times.
The Promise and the Dream: The Untold Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy
The Promise and the Dream: The Untold Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy
David MargolickVanity Fair journalist Margolick reveals the fascinating relationship between Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy, who were assassinated only 62 days apart in 1968. Linked by their dedication to the fight for civil rights, as well as their tragic deaths, the two iconic men shared a complex bond in life.
Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
Martin Luther King, Jr.This is the story of the Montgomery bus boycott in the words of Dr. King himself. In addition to an account of the lead-up to the boycott and its aftermath, Dr. King shares his philosophy on noncooperation campaigns and nonviolent resistance. “Stride Toward Freedom” captures the courage and compassion required to stand up to injustice and hate in 1955.
Alabama v. King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Criminal Trial That Launched the Civil Rights Movement
Alabama v. King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Criminal Trial That Launched the Civil Rights Movement
David Fisher“Alabama v. King” takes you into the courtroom with one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s defense lawyers, Alabama legend Fred D. Gray, for one of the most pivotal trials of the civil rights movement. Even though we already know bits and pieces of this trial, it’s inspiring to learn the intricate details of how Gray, Dr. King, and others won against stacked odds.
Martin Rising: Requiem For a King
Andrea Davis PinkneyStunning in its poetry, “Martin Rising” chronicles the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike of 1968 and the fateful days leading up to Dr. King’s assassination. There are countless books and documentaries that pay tribute to his legacy; however, the Pinkneys take a unique approach in sharing the inspiration and light that Dr. King provided, and continues to provide to this day.
The FBI and Martin Luther King, Jr.: From "Solo" to Memphis
David J. GarrowRacism, communist paranoia, and a desire to destroy Dr. King’s influence and credibility led to unprecedented abuse of power at the hands of the FBI and President Hoover’s administration. Historian David Garrow shares detailed research and analysis of the FBI’s relentless surveillance of Dr. King which included bugging hotel rooms and wiretapping until his death in 1968.
The MLK Tapes
18 podcast episodes
The MLK Tapes
18 podcast episodesWe’re taught in school that James Earl Ray, an escaped convict, assassinated Dr. King. But the true crime podcast “The MLK Tapes” digs into how the evidence against Ray doesn’t add up. Instead, King’s family believes government agencies and various other groups worked together to kill MLK and cover it up. We’ll probably never know the full truth, but the eyewitness testimonies here are compelling.