MLK Info Sheet
This MLK Info Sheet, created by the Division of DEI, offers a brief overview of Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the Poor People's Campaign, this info sheet highlights his evolving philosophy, leadership, and the breadth of his impact. We encourage students, faculty, and staff alike to use this as a starting point to delve further into the complexities of King's life and philosophy. We hope you use this info sheet to engage in critical, thoughtful discussion and use it as an opportunity to foster your learning.
Early Life and Education
Martin Luther King Jr. was born into a family of pastors, which played a pivotal role in his life path. He attended Morehouse College, a historically black college, where he decided to become a minister. King then attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and Boston University, where he deepened his understanding of Christian theology and Gandhi's nonviolent protest strategies. His doctoral studies and early experiences shaped his approach to the Civil Rights Movement.
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The boycott was remarkably effective. African Americans, who made up about 75% of the bus system's ridership, avoided buses and instead organized alternative methods of transportation, including carpools, walking, or even riding in African American-operated cabs that charged the same fare as the bus, ten cents.
The boycott brought the city's bus system to its knees financially and became a model for civil disobedience and nonviolent protest. It drew national and international attention to the plight of African Americans in the South and to the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. After 381 days, the boycott ended following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the segregation laws for buses unconstitutional. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a significant victory for civil rights, laying the groundwork for future protests and marking the emergence of King as a prominent national leader of the American civil rights movement.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is a civil rights organization founded in 1957, primarily under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. and other African American ministers and civil rights leaders. Its inception was driven by the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and aimed to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct nonviolent protests against the system of segregation.
The SCLC played a central role in orchestrating some of the most significant campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement, including the Birmingham Campaign, the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the March on Washington. The organization was instrumental in fostering collaboration among various civil rights groups, and its ethos of nonviolent resistance became a hallmark of the movement, significantly influencing the struggle for racial equality in the United States. The SCLC's philosophy of nonviolent resistance became a hallmark of the movement and its methodologies are still in practice today.
Learn more about the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
"Letter from Birmingham Jail"
"Letter from Birmingham Jail," written by Martin Luther King Jr., is an open letter dated April 16, 1963. King composed this letter during his incarceration in a Birmingham, Alabama jail, where he was imprisoned for his participation in nonviolent demonstrations against segregation. The letter was a response to a public statement made by eight white Southern religious leaders, who criticized the protests as "unwise and untimely" and called for an end to the demonstrations.
King wrote in response to this statement and argued that individuals have a moral duty to disobey unjust laws. In this document, King articulated the reasons and justifications for the civil rights movement. He defended the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, arguing that nonviolent direct action was necessary to create “constructive” tension that would compel the white power structure to negotiate with the black community. He famously wrote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," emphasizing the interconnectedness of communities and the importance of acting against injustice.
March on Washington
This event in 1963 was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history. King's speech, delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, called for an end to racism and for civil and economic rights. It has since become emblematic of the Civil Rights Movement and a symbol of hope and change. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, as it was formally known, drew over 250,000 participants from all over the country, creating a powerful visual testament to the urgency and breadth of the demand for social justice. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, with its profound message and eloquent delivery, resonated deeply, capturing the essence of the movement's aspirations and laying out a visionary path toward racial harmony and equality. The march and King's speech significantly influenced public opinion and were pivotal in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, cementing this event as a critical turning point in the fight for civil rights in America.
Nobel Peace Prize and Evolution of Nonviolent Protest
At age 35, King received this prestigious award for his nonviolent struggle against racism. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about the urgent need to address racial injustice and the power of nonviolent action. The award brought international recognition to the Civil Rights Movement.
Soon after this, King’s philosophy evolved to include a critique of broader systemic issues like poverty and international conflict. His stance against the Vietnam War and his focus on economic inequality marked a significant expansion of his activism. He argued that civil rights were inseparable from social and economic rights. While the core of his philosophy stayed the same, this moved his methodology of protest toward a new, different direction.
The Poor People's Campaign
The Poor People's Campaign, initiated in 1968 by Martin Luther King Jr., represented a significant evolution in his civil rights activism, shifting the focus from racial injustice to broader issues of economic inequality and poverty. This campaign aimed to bring together poor people from across the United States to demand better living conditions, more effective anti-poverty programs, and economic justice. King envisioned a coalition that included African Americans, white Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, highlighting the universal struggle against poverty that transcended racial and ethnic lines.
The campaign's central event was the planned occupation of Washington, D.C., known as the "Poor People's March." King's assassination on April 4, 1968, occurred just weeks before the march, but the campaign continued under the leadership of Ralph Abernathy, a close associate of King and fellow civil rights leader. In May 1968, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington, setting up a temporary camp known as "Resurrection City" on the National Mall.
Despite challenges, the campaign succeeded in drawing attention to the plight of the nation's poor. Although it did not achieve immediate policy changes, the Poor People's Campaign is remembered for its ambitious vision of economic equality and social justice, and it marked a significant chapter in the broader civil rights movement, expanding its scope beyond racial issues to address fundamental economic and social disparities.
Legacy and Influence on Legislation
King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where he had gone to support a sanitation workers' strike. His assassination led to an outpouring of national grief and widespread riots in over 100 U.S. cities. Posthumously, King has remained a symbol of the struggle for civil rights and his teachings continue to inspire movements for social change.
King's activism was instrumental in passing key civil rights legislation. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. These legislative victories marked significant milestones in the long struggle for civil rights and set the stage for ongoing efforts to achieve true equality in America. King's legacy, embodied in these laws, continues to inspire and challenge us to work toward a more just and inclusive society.
View The Civil Rights Act of 1964
View The Voting Rights Act of 1965
To learn more about how we understand Martin Luther King and make sense of his philosophy and methodology of protest, the Divison of DEI strongly encourages you to kick start your learning by viewing these two articles written by Dara T. Mathis from The Atlantic and April Reign from History.