Free at Last

Wednesday marked the 85th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil rights activist who made history with the delivery of his 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In addition to being the leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, King was also a pastor, and preached the use of nonviolent civil disobedience to further the causes of civil rights.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been an officially recognized federal holiday since 1986, held on the third Monday of every January. Scroll down to find out more about this American hero:


Links:

- Martin Luther King, Jr. Biography -- from Biography.com.

- Celebrate the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. This Weekend -- Have a three-day weekend?  Head to the D.C. area to take part in one of these special events. (From the Washington Post.)

- His Dream, Our Stories -- the legacy of the March on Washington. Hear personal stories from those who were present at the March.

- Martin Luther King, Jr. Iconic Speeches -- The "I Have a Dream" speech has taken its rightful place in history. But King was an inspirational speaker who delivered other powerful speeches. Check out this collection of videos, audio, photos, and transcripts, from his Noble Prize acceptance speech to his eloquent opposition to the Vietnam War.

- Martin Luther King, Jr. (from Comcast) -- a collection of photos from the life and legacy of Dr. King.

- Noble Prize Biography -- NoblePrize.org's official biography on Dr. King.

- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

From the Collection:

- The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation -- by Drew D. Hansen.

- April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Death and How it Changed America -- by Michael Eric Dyson.

- King Remembered -- by Flip Schulke and Penelope Ortner McPhee.

- Desert Rose: The Life and Legacy of Coretta Scott King -- by Edythe Scott Bagley with Joe Hilley.

- The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

* All Books on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective [DVD].

- Citizen King, 1963-1968 [DVD] -- Part of the PBS documentary program The American Experience.

- In Remembrance of Martin [DVD] -- Personal recollections from the family, friends, and acquaintances of Dr. King.

- Martin Luther King: "I Have a Dream" [DVD] -- The iconic speech.

* All DVDs on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



-- Post by Ms. B