"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" (King). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke these famous words as he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As "America's most compelling and effective civil rights leader," King was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Every 3rd Monday of January, the country celebrates MLK Day. Beyond this day, though, we see King's activism that has left a legacy bigger than a single day celebration.
MLK Jr.'s Activism
King began getting involved in the civil rights movement in 1955 when he lead a bus boycott. This boycott was started by Rosa Parks', who famously refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. This boycott led to the desegregation of city buses. It was only the beginning of King's activism, and he later founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where he continued to promote equality and activism in general.
King was a vocal supporter and preacher of non-violent action. He stated that "freedom is never given voluntarily by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed" and stuck with the idea that non-violence would be the best way to go about getting this freedom. He participated and held sit-ins, marches, and any other form of a peaceful demonstrations to bring attention to the issues he was fighting. There wasn't a time when King acted in a violent manner.
King had numerously met with multiple leaders to continue spreading his activism for equality. He met not only leaders in the United States, but leaders worldwide. Some notable leaders he met include President Eisenhower, India's prime minister, and President Kennedy. The National Archives features documents on the correspondence between Martin Luther King Jr. and the White House, showing just how connected he was with leaders.
The final movement King participated in was the Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike. King saw this issue as a "need for economic equality and social justice." King pushed other civil rights leaders to join this rally, as well. During the march, violence erupted and caused the demonstration to stop. A few days later, King returned to protest and preach with these sanitation workers. That evening on April 3rd, King was assassinated on his balcony. On April 8th, "42,000 people led by Coretta Scott King, SCLC and union leaders" marched in Memphis, demanding rights for the Memphis Sanitation Workers.
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was held on August 28, 1963 in Washington D.C. People from all over the country, rural and urban, came together to march the streets of D.C. They had 10 demands that addressed the "systemic racism and the discrimination which African Americans still experience" and it "called for legislation to guarantee the right to vote for all Americans."
King gave his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech at this march. It was one of the moments he is known for the most. The National Archives has a collection of photos from the march, showing the crowds of people meeting to fight for civil rights.
His Legacy
Although King was assassinated by James Earl Ray at the age of 39, his legacy continues to grow and inspire generation after generation. His work and activism, without a doubt, was recognized on a world stage, and it's proven by his win of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The Nobel Committee praised him for "his exceptional leadership skills in the principles of peace, nonviolence, and direct action." King was nominated by the American Friends Service Committee. King was also applauded for his use of the monetary prize, which he split with other civil rights groups.
Martin Luther King's legacy is also seen in the education system in the United States. K-12 institutions everywhere educate students on the importance of the work King did. Whether it's second graders hearing his "I Have a Dream" speech and learning about equality to high schools students having to analyze the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," King's influence is undeniable.
Student's Artwork for MLK Day
On January 18, 1986, Martin Luther King Day was first observed after President Reagan signed Proclamation 5431. A few years later in 1994, President Clinton signed the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act to push the holiday to be more focused on service and anti-violence initiatives. This day is nationally known as a "Day of Service" around the country. People everywhere volunteer in their communities and march in remembrance of the work MLK Jr. did. Govinfo provides a list of legislation, all regarding King.
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Oklahoma State University's 2022 MLK Celebration
In collaboration with the City of Stillwater, OSU's MLK Celebration is a week long affair. From essay and art contests to community service projects and a march, OSU has a variety of opportunities to celebrate the legacy of King. On January 17, students and the Stillwater community marched around campus in honor of King and heard from a few speakers, including Dr. Jason Kirksey, President Shrum, and student keynote speaker Chideha Kanu, on his impact.
On January 20th, OSU will be hosting An Evening with Soledad O'Brien, an "award-winning- documentarian, speaker, and philanthropist", to speak more on the legacy of MLK Jr. OSU will also take 100 OSU-Stillwater participants to explore Black Wall St. and the Tulsa Race Massacre on January 22, 2022. It's purpose is to "better understand historical events, community resilience, and the devastating effects of racism on American society."
The Edmon Low Library also has a wide variety of resources, both physical and virtual, on Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement of that time. Government Documents, specifically, has resources in relation to King's Historic Site and legislation.
Government Information Online is produced by the staff at the Oklahoma State University Libraries Government Documents Department, a regional depository for U.S. Government and Oklahoma state government documents. We are located on the 5th floor of the Edmon Low Library. Our department website can be reached at www.info.library.okstate.edu/government-documents. For more information or for research assistance, contact us at 405.744.6546. or email suzanne.reinman@okstate.edu.
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