Martin Luther King, Jr.
"At the age of 26, Martin Luther King, Jr. took up the leadership role that would fill the rest of his life. He furthered the stubborn determination of black Americans to break down the limits of a racist society. His strategy of nonviolent protest brought passage of far–reaching federal legislation that undermined southern efforts to enforce segregation through local laws. His vision of a just and equal society where race would be transcended fired the imagination of many Americans."
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Source: Notable Black American Men. Gale Research, 1998.
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"We've got some difficult days ahead," Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., told a crowd gathered at Memphis's Clayborn Temple on April 3, 1968, in a speech now collected in The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr. "But it really doesn't matter to me now," he continued, "because I've been to the mountaintop. . . .And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."
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Source: Contemporary Authors Online. The Gale Group, 2001.
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"I Have a Dream Speech" (excerpt)
"And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
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.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
(The speech was delivered on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.)
View full text, audio, and video of the speech from American Rhetoric.
Listen to other speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Smithsonian Global Sound Music Library.
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 Kids & Teens
Library Materials
Books for Kids
This list of titles contains biographies for kids on Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading List
Enjoy these hand-picked titles for children about the life of Dr. King and also The Civil Rights Movement.
Library Online Resources
InfoTrac Kids Edition
This is a fun and easy database for elementary students to find historical events and people.
NoveList
Search this reader’s advisory for fiction and non-fiction titles about Martin Luther King, Jr. Titles are available for all ages.
Web Sites
Danielle's Place
Stop by Danielle's Place for great crafts to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Enchanted Learning
A children’s educational Web site which is designed to capture the imagination while maximizing creativity, learning, and enjoyment. Plenty of activities and crafts too!
Kids' Turn Central
Find out more about Dr. King through this directory of recommended kids’ Web sites from Kids’ Turn Central.
Scholastic
This Web site is a great place to find info on Martin Luther King, Jr. and ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
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Take the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Quiz
Find the answers to these questions:
(Answers located on bottom of page)
1. What is the name of the church where both Martin Luther King, Jr.’s father and grandfather were pastors?
2. In April of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Civil Rights leaders initiated a nonviolent protest campaign to desegregate public facilities in what city?
3. Where did Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his speech, The Purpose of Education, in 1948?
4. Match the phases/points in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s career to their correct years:
__ Founder, S.C.L.C.
__ Pastor, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
__ Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
5. In what year did Congress approve creation of "King Day"?
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Answers: 1. Ebenezer Baptist Church 2. Birmingham, Alabama 3. Morehouse College, Alabama 4. A C B 5. 1983
Web Sites
Build the Dream: The Memorial
Get information about the memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which will be built on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — A Biographical Sketch
This biography provided by Louisiana State University contains family and educational background, honorary degrees, and awards held by Dr. King.
Letter from Birmingham Jail,
April 16, 1963
Read Dr. King’s stirring words in a letter he composed while confined in a Birmingham, Alabama jail.
Martin Luther King, Jr. — Biography
Nobel Prize Organization’s biography on Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Celebrate Dr. King's legacy by participating in the King Day of Service.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Biography, timeline, quotes, and more on Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement
Access timelines, study guides, quizzes, photo galleries, and a selection of speeches, sermons, and letters provided by the Seattle Times.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
Commemorate Dr. King and his work by visiting his birth home. Get directions, operating hours, news, photos, and more from the National Park Service.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
An extensive directory of resources from Stanford University including information about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project.
The King Center
Find invaluable resources to become informed about Dr. King and the ongoing efforts to fulfill his great dream of the beloved community for America and the world. Get the real meaning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday by reading the essay written by Coretta Scott King.
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