Explore MLK's Life and Legacy

Smithsonian Institution
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Smithsonian Institution

MLK delivering a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963, © Robert Adelman Estate, Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery

Dear Friend,

On the third Monday in January, Americans pause to reflect on the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. A prominent minister and civil rights leader, King utilized nonviolent resistance to champion desegregation, voting and labor rights, and other issues in the fight for African American equality.

You can honor King's legacy today by engaging in acts of service in your community. You can also discover more about his story and impact on the civil rights movement with these resources from across the Smithsonian.

Protestors marching led arm-in-arm by MLK.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King lead a group of protesters during the Selma to Montgomery March, including fellow activists Rosa Parks, Ralph and Juanita Abernathy, Dr. Ralph Bunche, and Fred Shuttlesworth, Montgomery, Alabama, 1965. Photograph by Moneta Sleet Jr., Johnson Publishing Company Archive, Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Colorful images of and writings by MLK in the format of African traditional strip quilting.
This documentary quilt From a Birmingham Jail: MLK by artist L'Merchie Frazier contains excerpts from speeches and events in King's life. It is presented in the format of African traditional strip quilting, often used to call on the presence of the ancestors for community protection. Quilt of silk, photo transfer, gel medium, dyes, and beads, 1996. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of L'Merchie Frazier in memory of grandparents Watty and Alberta Frazier and James and Merchie Dooley.
  • While the "I Have a Dream" speech was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, King's impact went far beyond this single story. Educators share materials that can be used to expand our understanding of King's work and influence in Smithsonian magazine.
Black and white poster with the text of a MLK quote with his image.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 3, 1968 by designer Gail Anderson, ca. 2018. Ink on paper (fiber product) featuring a quote from King's final speech delivered in Memphis, TN. © Gail Anderson, gift to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, encouraging all Americans to volunteer in their communities. Learn about the history of the holiday—from the first introduction of legislation four days after King's assassination to its eventual recognition in all 50 states in 2000.

The Smithsonian is able to share stories of American change-markers, innovators, and dreamers because of generous supporters like you—thank you!

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