Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Published in 2018, this special issue of the Atlantic features original essays by Martin Luther King, Jr. alongside retrospective essays by writers including Vann Newkirk II, Jesmyn Ward, Clint Smith, William J. Barber II, Eve Ewing, and many others.

Black Perspectives is a publication of the African American Intellectual History Society. This 2018 forum features essays by five historians about Dr. King's impact on five American cities: Memphis, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.

Recording of October 2020 lecture by historian Peniel E. Joseph, author of The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

An interview with historian Jeanne Theoharris that covers lesser known aspects of Dr. King's activism, including his work to address and end police brutality. This talk is accompanied by educational resources courtesy of the Zinn Education Project & other contributers.

April 2018 episode of the New York Times' Still Processing podcast, featuring Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham. "While MLK’s birthday is celebrated on a national level, we spend time processing why his death holds a significant importance as well. We examine the months leading up to MLK Jr.’s death, including his iconic speech, 'I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,' and discuss the ways in which his ideals shifted after his 'I Had A Dream' speech. MLK day is a celebration of King’s birthday, and we suggest that maybe what we should really be marking is the day of his assassination."

Backstory is a podcast hosted by historians Joanne Freeman, Nathan Connelly, Ed Ayers, Peter Onuf, and Brian Balogh. This episode was originally released in January 2020.

"Had he lived, Martin Luther King, Jr. would have celebrated his 91st birthday this week. King is celebrated as an American hero and championed in children’s books and inspirational posters, but have Americans lost sight of the real MLK?"