MLK notes

Being Black in Dixie: MLK's Early Life (Chapter 1)

MLK's Early Years:

• Born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Parents: Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King.

• Two siblings: Christine and A.D.

• Raised as a normal child but lived under Jim Crow Laws.

Jim Crow Laws:

    *   Legalized racial segregation.

    *   Segregation laws where MLK lived.

    *   Example: Rosa Parks sitting in the "white" section of the bus.

Plessy vs. Ferguson Case:

    *   On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in the white section of a train.

    *   In 1896, the Plessy vs. Ferguson case began.

    *   The court ruled for separate facilities for blacks and whites such as schools, restrooms, and water fountains.

    *   The laws were legal as long as they were equal.

    *   In 1964, almost 70 years later, segregation was ended during the Civil Rights Act.

The Emancipation Proclamation:

    *   Emancipation means freedom and proclamation means announcement.

    *   President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

    *   It declared that all slaves living in Confederate territory in rebellion against the United States would be free.

    *   The problem: few slave owners actually followed the order.

KKK (Ku Klux Klan):

    *   The KKK is a group of Confederate Army veterans.

    *   The KKK was a hate group to Black people. They used violence to create fear.

    *   In the late 19th century, almost 2000 were murdered or lynched by mobs.

The NAACP:

    *   The NAACP was established in 1910 by W.E.B. DuBois.

    *   It was created to work for the abolition of segregation and discrimination in housing, education, voting, and transportation.

Finding Faith (Chapter 2)

Morehouse College:

    *   Entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, the third member of his family to do so.

    *   Morehouse College was having a crisis the September that King entered his first year.

    *   Many young men were serving in the military, making enrollment low.

    *   Entered Morehouse directly from his junior year of high school.

    *   His skills-acquired at colored-only schools -were only at the eighth-grade level.

Gandhi's Influence:

    *   Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist.

    *   Gandhi inspired MLK because he was able to lead successful campaigns without the use of violence.

    *   MLK was impressed by Gandhi’s ideas and wanted to adopt these ways into his own life.

Marriage to Coretta Scott:

    *   Coretta and Martin got married on June 18, 1953.

    *   There were no honeymoon suites for Black people in the South so they spent their wedding night at a friend’s funeral parlor.

    *   They were both offered jobs in the South, that would mean Jim Crow laws.

    *   In the end, they felt like the South was their home, even with the Jim Crow laws.

MLK and Seminary:

    *   A seminary is a college that trains students to be priests or ministers.

    *   MLK wanted to go to a seminary because he was interested in becoming a priest.

    *   Another reason that made MLK join a seminary was because his father was a minister.

Brown vs. Board of Education:

    *   Education was not necessarily “equal”. It separated blacks and whites because of their race.

    *   A 7 year old girl named Linda Brown couldn’t attend a white school nearby and had to attend a Black only school far away.

    *   On May 17, 1954, The NAACP took the case to the Supreme Court and they ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was illegal.

Emmett Till:

    *   Emmett Till was born on July 25, 1941.

    *   On August 28, 1955, 14 year old Emmett was accused of offending a white woman, and was shot in the head and killed.

    *   Emmett was dared by a couple of his friends and was made an example for a Black man never to make a move on a white woman.

Jim Crow Laws in the South:

    *   Marin and Coretta continued to live in the South because it was their home.

    *   The climate was changing in the South, and if it were to change they wanted to be a part of it.

    *   Seeing Black people at the back of the bus made their hearts sink, but not much could be done at the time.

Chapter 3 - Mobilizing Montgomery

Significance of Rosa Parks:

    *   "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement."

    *   Refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama (December 1, 1955).

    *   Arrested, leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

    *   Born in Alabama on February 4.

Bus Boycott (“The Miracle of Montgomery”):

    *   Purpose: 13-month mass protest against segregation on public buses.

    *   How: Inspired by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat.

    *   Outcome: U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation on public buses unconstitutional.

    *   Lasted 381 days; segregation on buses ended December 21, 1956.

    *   Lawsuit filed against racial segregation laws; determined unconstitutional on June 4, 1956.

Creation of MIA:

    *   Montgomery Improvement Association created December 5, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama.

    *   Movement to fight for civil rights for African Americans and end bus segregation.

Attack on MLK:

    *   Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Reaction of KKK (Ku Klux Klan):

    *   Secret American terrorist organization (hate group).

    *   Racist towards Black people.

    *   Used violence to create fear and power.

1957 - SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference):

    *   Created to coordinate civil rights protest activities across the South.

    *   King served as chairman.

    *   Off-shoot of the MIA.

Chapter 4 - Following in Gandhi’s Footsteps

Elizabeth Eckford:

    *   One of the "Little Rock Nine" who desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

    *   Faced an aggressive, angry white crowd on her first attempt to attend school.

Brown v. Board of Education:

    *   1954 Supreme Court decision.

    *   Ruled state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

“Little Rock Nine”:

    *   First Black students to desegregate Little Rock Central High School.

    *   Protected by federal troops.

Crusade for Citizenship:

    *   Voter project in 1958 organized by the SCLC.

    *   Goal: Double the number of African-American voters in the South for the 1958 and 1960 elections.

MLK's Trip to India:

    *   Followed in Gandhi’s footsteps after recovering from a stabbing.

    *   Inspired by Gandhi’s principle of nonviolence.

“Untouchables”:

    *   Hindu religious law separating people by wealth and occupation (determined by birth).

    *   Gandhi fought for better treatment of the untouchables.

    *   MLK felt that the untouchables were like the Americans of color.

1960 Sit-in Protest of Greensboro:

    *   Sit-in: Organized protest where people occupy a space and refuse to leave.

    *   Protestors waited at a lunch counter, refused service because of their skin color.

    *   Inspired more than 100 young adults to protest in restaurants, parks, swimming pools, and theaters.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC):

    *   Founded in April 1960.

    *   Dedicated to nonviolent, direct action tactics.

    *   Independent of King and SCLC but worked alongside them in the early years.

October 1960 - King's Arrest:

    *   King sat at a whites-only lunch counter in Rich's department store in Atlanta.

    *   Arrested and charged with trespassing.

Role of JFK:

    *   John F. Kennedy phoned Coretta Scott King to offer sympathy.

    *   Robert F. Kennedy helped hasten King's release on bail.

Martin Luther King: Battling in Birmingham & Fighting Back

Who are the Freedom Riders? (CORE)

    *   Freedom Riders are part of the Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE).

    *   Goal: improve race relations.

    *   May 4th, 1961: boarded buses from Washington D.C. to New Orleans.

    *   Stopped at segregated stations in the South to cause attention to segregation on buses.

    *   Protested on Mother's Day, beaten by mobs (whites with knives, pipes, bricks; KKK members).

    *   CORE activists severely wounded; some disabled for life.

Who are the Freedom Riders? (CORE) Continued..

    *   Nashville, Tennessee students continued the Freedom Ride.

    *   May 21: King arrived at Ralph Abernathy’s church supporting Freedom Riders during a white mob attack (rocks and tear gas).

    *   Summer 1961: 300 riders arrested in Jackson, Mississippi.

    *   Bad publicity pressured Robert Kennedy to urge the ICC to end segregation at buses.

What Happened to the Freedom Riders?

    *   Anniston, Alabama: bus ambushed, tires slashed by a white mob at Greyhound.

    *   Nashville, Tennessee: Angry whites brutally beat riders. Many were arrested.

    *   Montgomery, Alabama: attacked by a white mob with iron pipes and baseball bats at South Court Street bus stop.

    *   Jackson, Mississippi: arrested for breach of peace for using segregated washrooms.

    *   Albany, Georgia: CORE inspired many to join the civil rights movement.

Albany Movement Significance

    *   Formed by civil rights organizations (NAACP, SNCC).

    *   November: Protesters marched to Trailways bus terminal to test new ICC ruling; jailed.

    *   Hundreds held in miserable conditions.

    *   William G. Anderson (Albany Movement head) called King for help.

    *   King and Abernathy flew to Albany, joined the cause, but the mayor refused to meet them.

Albany Movement Significance

    *   King and Anderson led a march through Albany.

    *   Stopped by police; Chief Laurie Pritchett warned of arrest.

    *   Marchers knelt to pray; arrested.

    *   King and Abernathy released on bail.

    *   No progress was made in talks with the city; King lost the battle in Albany.

Chief Pritchett's Roles

    *   Clever opponent; didn't use violence.

    *   Didn't support King's movement.

    *   Movement became less effective when a Black woman brought food to demonstrators in jail.

    *   Attack on police with rocks and bottles; King lost the battle in Albany.

Violent Times in the Fall of 1962

    *   September: James Meredith, a veteran, became the first Black student at the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss").

    *   Governor Ross Barnett denied him access.

    *   President Kennedy ordered troops to Mississippi to protect Meredith.

    *   Marshals circled the university building. Armed whites were present.

    *   A marshal attacked by a crowd member, tear gas thrown, gunfire.

    *   A French journalist was shot. Dozens of marshals wounded.

    *   Oxford, Mississippi was described as a battlefield for weeks.

    *   James Meredith finally entered the university.

Council of Federated Organizations

    *   In 1962, government officials penalized Blacks who participated in the voter registration by cutting their food surplus program.

    *   Organizations such as NAACP, SNCC, and CORE came together to form The Council of Federated Organizations (COFO).

    *   COFO practiced nonviolent protests, helped Blacks fill out voter registration forms, helped seek government assistance, and taught Black children to read and write.

Commissioner of Public Safety

    *   Birmingham, the most segregated city in the South.

    *   Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor hated "integration."

    *   Connor denied the civil rights act and enforced segregation laws.

    *   Ordered firemen to hit Black children with strong water forces.

    *   Connor used vicious German Shepherds to attack children on May 5th.

    *   Arrested around 1000 Black children during the children's crusade.

Governor George C. Wallace

    *   Wallace became a spokesman for segregation.

    *   Served many terms in office.

    *   Later changed his position on race; reelected as governor in 1982 with African-American support.

1963- Birmingham Manifesto

    *   Birmingham is known as the most segregated city in the South.

    *   Commissioner of Police and Governor George C. Wallace wanted to maintain segregation.

    *   Wallace delivered a forceful speech saying “segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!”

    *   King and his staff moved to Birmingham.

    *   April 3, 1963: King started the “Birmingham Manifesto.”

    *   Demanded desegregation of lunch counters, restrooms, and drinking fountains in downtown department stores.

King's Arrest - Letter From Jail

    *   King held alone in a narrow cell without a mattress or pillow.

    *   His organization ran out of bail money.

    *   Protest might lose momentum.

    *   Black entertainer raised $50,000 for bail.

    *   King's jailers were kinder; gave him a pillow and mattress, allowed him to call Coretta.

King's Arrest - Letter From Jail

    *   Coretta called Robert Kennedy for help.

    *   Kennedy's staff checked on King in jail.

    *   King received a newsletter with a statement from eight Alabama clergymen urging Black people to abandon protest and be patient.

    *   King wrote his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” in response.

    *   King was able to walk out of prison a few days later.

    *   Back on the streets in Birmingham, he saw the protest had weakened and he needed to find more volunteers.

    *   Many college students, high schoolers, and elementary students wanted a chance to join the movement.

    *   He later took the risk and let them march.

Children's Crusade 1963

    *   May 2nd: Children's Crusade began. More than 1000 children came to Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

    *   The following day, May 3rd, 1963 more excited youngsters came to participate in the march.

    *   2,500 more of them. They were carrying signs and chanting; “We want freedom”.

    *   Stopped by Bull Connor, local police, and firefighters.

    *   Connor yelled at the kids and crowds with orders but the marchers refused to turn away. He then said, “Let them have it”.

    *   Connors' men unleashed snarling German Shepherds at the frightened children. Several were badly bitten.

    *   Firemen aimed powerful water hoses at the little boys and girls and by the heavy force, they were pushed against buildings.

    *   On a prayer pilgrimage to Birmingham jail on May 5th, marching children knelt in front of Connors angry dogs. Also, when he commanded the firemen to turn on the hoses, they wouldn’t respond as Connors men were moved by their bravery.

Children’s Crusade 1963

    *   By May 7th, no progress was made and thousands of young marchers had been met with Bull Connors forces of dogs, clubs and cattle prods where they were later blasted by hoses.

    *   Fred Shuttlesworth was knocked unconscious by a gust of water and had to be sent to the hospital, and the situation was out of hand.

    *   Governor Wallace sent hundreds of state troops to help Connor subdue the marcher.

    *   The city was a battleground and white leaders had enough.

    *   Then within 60 days lunch counters, fitting rooms, restrooms, and drinking fountains were promised to be integrated.

    *   Segregationists had also destroyed much of Gaston Hotel

    *   Black citizens were getting attacked in the streets, along with raging riots.

    *   King's house in Birmingham had been bombed by whites, possibly Klan members.

    *   King's Presence had a magic effect; he refused to allow the Birmingham campaign to be spoiled by violence.

    *   President Kennedy said the events were a sign that the country was ready for change.

Chapter 7 & 8 Notes

Who was Medgar Evers?

    *   Highest-ranking NAACP official in Mississippi.

    *   Blocked from registering to vote and denied entry to law school for being Black.

    *   WWII veteran.

    *   Risked his life to help a Black witness who testified against Emmett Till's killer escape safely.

    *   Died on June 11, 1963, from assassination.

March to Washington D.C.

    *   Memory of Evers was kept in the hearts of Black people.

    *   Inspired people to go on the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

    *   August 28, 1963: 250,000 people marched into the nation's capital.

    *   Many speeches were made, but MLK's was the most notable.

I Have A Dream Speech

    *   On August 28, 1963, MLK made his "I Have A Dream" speech.

    *   Meant a lot to both White and Black people.

    *   MLK felt like Abraham Lincoln, reminding people of all races that they must work together for freedom.

    *   Quote: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

After the March - Major Events

       *Bombing in Birmingham:**

        *   September 15, 1963: 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed.

        *   Killed four young girls preparing for youth service.

        *   MLK held a funeral for three of the girls to comfort his people.

        *   FBI investigators could not find the person or group responsible.

Assassination of JFK:

        *   Died on November 22, 1963, in Dallas.

        *   Had grown to support the civil rights movement.

        *   The assassination upset the nation.

JFK & MLK:

        *   The Kings attended a reception at the White House with President Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon Johnson.

        *   Kennedy warned MLK about possible FBI surveillance.

        *   JFK knew many whites wanted King's movement to fail and warned him to be careful.

Malcolm X

    *   The first African-American selected as Time magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1963.

    *   Black leader of the Muslim faith.

    *   Though non-violence was leaving Black people defenseless.

    *   MLK didn't agree with his beliefs but respected his intelligence.

    *   Assassinated in 1965 by Thomas Hagan; MLK mourned his loss.

King's Accomplishments

    *   Led the SCLC and fought for civil rights.

    *   Completed a non-violent boycott that lasted over a year.

    *   Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

    *   Vowed to give the $54,000 award to the civil rights movement.

    *   Made his "I Have A Dream" speech that impacted Black and White people.

    *   Led the March on Washington.

1965 Campaign in Selma/The Selma Marches

    *   MLK launched a campaign in Selma, where Black people had been repeatedly turned away from the voting booth.

    *   Out of 15,000 eligible Black voters in Selma, only one percent were registered.

March From Selma to Montgomery - Bloody Sunday

    *   King wanted a new march from Selma to Montgomery, starting March 7, 1965.

    *   Protesters prepared to march the 54 miles to let their voices be heard.

    *   500 marchers gathered outside the Brown Chapel in Selma, carrying blankets, food, and water.

    *   State troopers stopped the marchers on Highway 80 at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, yelling through a bullhorn, "Turn around and go back to your church."

    *   The state troopers lunged at the crowd and swung their clubs. Tear gas was released, causing marchers to choke.

    *   More than 70 people were sent to the hospital, and 4 lives were lost.

Sheriff Clark

    *   Sheriff Clark, holding a club and a cattle prod, wanted to enforce the law, leading King to challenge him.

    *   While the protesters marched, they would see Sheriff Clark in a full military uniform. Later, state troopers arrived.

    *   King and Sheriff Clark's forces clashed, resulting in many protesters being jailed and injured by clubs.

Jimmie Lee Jackson

    *   Jimmie Jackson and his mother ran to Mack's Café for safety.

    *   Jimmie's grandfather walked in, bleeding from blows received from state troopers.

    *   He tried to get his grandfather to the hospital, but state troopers blocked the exit.

    *   Jimmie lunged at a state trooper to protect his mom but was shot in the stomach and died a few days later.

James Reeb

    *   James Reeb was a white Unitarian minister from Boston and a witness to Bloody Sunday.

    *   Reeb went to a Black restaurant with two other white ministers after walking SCLC headquarters after eating.

    *   Reeb and the ministers walked down a street with an all-white hangout, the Silver Moon Café.

    *   Four white men attacked the ministers with clubs, and Reeb was smacked in the head, became unconscious, went into a coma, and died two days later.

President Johnson

    *   With all the violence from Bloody Sunday, President Johnson promised to draft a stricter voting rights bill.

    *   On March 15, President Johnson addressed the bill to the public on television.

    *   Days later, the judge lifted the court injunction that blocked the march from Selma to Montgomery.

Arrival in Montgomery - Outcome?

    *   On March 25, a weary group of marchers arrived in Montgomery.

    *   While marching to the state capital, they sang "We Shall Overcome."

    *   Viola Liuzzo helped the tired marchers in her Oldsmobile.

    *   A car of Klansmen (KKK) raced alongside her, and one fired a .38 caliber pistol through her window, killing the white mother.

    *   After the incident, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965, stopping literacy tests and unreasonable restrictions.

Chapters 9 & 10 Notes

De Facto Segregation:

    *   Segregation in everyday life, not enforced by law.

    *   Examples: separated neighborhoods, different schools based on race.

Violence in Los Angeles 1965:

    *   August 11, 1965: Riots broke out in Los Angeles.

    *   Residents looted and burned property.

    *   34 deaths, 900 injuries, $46 million in property damage.

    *   MLK believed the riots stemmed from joblessness, police mistreatment, and general neglect of the Black community.

Martin's Move to Chicago:

    *   January 1966: MLK and Coretta moved into an apartment in Chicago.

    *   Located at 1550 South Hamlin Avenue.

    *   Poorly heated and maintained, despite $90 rent for a two-bedroom apartment.

Mayor Daley:

    *   Chicago's mayor, unhappy with MLK's move.

    *   Daley resented MLK's criticism of Chicago's government regarding its handling of the ghettos.

    *   Daley believed his existing anti-poverty campaign was sufficient.

Vietnam War - Peace Movement:

    *   The Vietnam War diverted attention and resources from the civil rights movement.

    *   President Johnson and Congress focused on the war.

    *   MLK needed to find a way to bring civil rights back to the forefront.

Discord Between Leaders of Civil Rights Group:

    *   MLK learned of James Meredith's shooting while in Atlanta.

    *   At the Memphis hospital, he encountered Floyd McKissick and Stokely Carmichael.

    *   Carmichael and McKissick advocated for Black people to fight back, while King maintained his commitment to non-violence.

Black Panther Party:

    *   Militant group believing violence was necessary for civil rights.

    *   Demanded reforms in housing, education, and employment.

Black Power and Carmichael - Martin's Response:

    *   Carmichael, frustrated with non-violence, led a protest in Montgomery (some members carried guns).

    *   Carmichael's group used hateful slogans against white bystanders.

    *   King argued against Black supremacy, stating it was as racist as white supremacy, and that violence was not the answer.

Message of King's Book "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?":

    *   Published June 1967.

    *   King drew parallels to other immigrant groups (Irish, Jewish, Italians) overcoming similar challenges through alliances and unions.

    *   He urged Black people to overcome shame and recognize their strengths.

Thurgood Marshall:

    *   First African-American Supreme Court Justice.

    *   MLK envisioned a mass civil disobedience campaign in Washington, D.C. to address the nation, not just individual cities.

The Poor People's Campaign:

    *   MLK encouraged organizations nationwide to protest for better employment and compensation.

    *   He vowed to continue the demonstrations until the government addressed the concerns of the American people, distracted by the Vietnam War.

Strike in Tennessee:

    *   MLK traveled to Tennessee and learned about striking Black sanitation workers demanding higher wages and equal pay.

    *   The city refused their demands.

March 28, 1968 - Result:

    *   MLK scheduled a march in Memphis.

    *   Violence erupted: teenagers broke windows, police in riot gear appeared.

    *   MLK called off the march, but police opened fire, injuring many and killing a 16-year-old boy.

Martin's Return to Memphis:

    *   MLK returned to the Lorraine Motel after a bomb threat delay on April 3rd.

    *   Checked into room 306 and attended a rally at Mason Temple at the urging of Ralph Abernathy.

    *   He spoke about his life, including being stabbed, and the recent bomb threat.

    *   King stated he had been to the mountaintop, seen the promised land, and wasn't fearing any man.

April 4, 1968:

    *   James Earl Ray arrived in Memphis on the night of MLK's last speech.

    *   MLK discussed a march with SCLC organizers.

    *   He had lunch with Ralph Abernathy and a visit from his brother.

    *   He received news that his march was permitted.

    *   An invitation to dinner.

    *   While on the balcony, MLK was shot in the face.

    *   He was pronounced dead at 8:05 P.M.

Chapters 11 & 12 Notes

April 4, 1968; MLK’s Death:

    *   Assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39.

    *   His death had a crucial impact, leaving shock and mixed reactions among the public.

"I've Been to the Mountaintop" Speech:

    *   Quote: "I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as people, will get to the Promised Land.”

    *   MLK used the mountaintop as a metaphor for seeing the future/progress of the Civil Rights Movement.

    *   Confident that the movement would continue, even if he didn’t live to see its victory.

Reaction to King’s Death:

    *   Many Americans were devastated and enraged, leading to riots across America.

    *   Some celebrated, calling King a 'Troublemaker.'

Ralph Abernathy and the Poor People’s Campaign:

    *   Abernathy continued King’s work, particularly the Poor People’s Campaign.

    *   King’s death was a major blow to the campaign.

    *   The campaign struggled without King’s leadership and didn’t fully achieve its goals.

King’s Funeral & Memorial March:

    *   19,000 supporters participated in the memorial march.

    *   King’s casket was carried on a ‘mule cart,’ symbolizing his dedication to helping the poor.

    *   Many people attended, including celebrities, but President Johnson was absent.

James Earl Ray:

    *   One of the FBI’s top 10 most wanted people even before the assassination.

    *   After imprisonment, Ray revealed he was part of a larger plot to kill King.

    *   The gun used was linked to Ray, described as a white high-school dropout and selfish criminal.

    *   The weapon had been fired from the bathroom window of a boarding house facing the Lorraine Motel.

Coretta Scott King:

    *   King’s wife, an author, powerful activist, and civil rights leader, especially after King’s death.

Ralph Abernathy:

    *   Martin’s chief partner in the civil rights movement, playing a big part even after King’s death.

Aftermath with Abernathy & Coretta Scott King:

    *   Abernathy filled King's role as a Civil Rights leader.

    *   He and Coretta Scott King led the Poor People’s Campaign in the summer of 1968.

    *   Coretta Scott King also led a large group of women who participated in the Poor People’s Campaign.

Coretta Scott King's Response:

    *   Learned about the shooting shortly after it happened.

    *   Took on a new role as his widow.

    *   On April 8, Coretta and her three oldest children went to Memphis and walked with Abernathy and 19,000 supporters in a memorial march for Martin’s death.

The Fight for MLK Day:

    *   After King’s assassination, Coretta and other activists began pushing for a national holiday.

    *   Congressman John Conyers introduced the bill for the holiday just four days after King’s death.

    *   Coretta and the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) gathered millions of petition signatures.

    *   Despite efforts, the bill failed in Congress 11 years after King’s death.

Establishing MLK Day:

    *   Coretta resumed the campaign in the early 1980s.

    *   Activists lobbied politicians and civic leaders for support.

    *   The bill, sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy, was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 3, 1983.

King’s Commitment to Nonviolence:

    *   Believed that violence could never create justice or truth.

    *   Quote: “For through violence you may murder a liar, but you can’t murder the lie.” - MLK

King’s Words and Impact:

    *   MLK's words and actions had the biggest impact on civil rights history in the 20th century.

    *   He encouraged Black Americans to hope and fight for justice.

    *   His famous speeches drew from his visions, such as during the arrests of children in Birmingham ("We Shall Overcome").