Letter from Birmingham Jail: Resources

Websites

The King Institute at Stanford University

This is one of the most comprehensive resources on MLK out there.

MLK Online

Another good resource, though it's not as slick as Stanford's site.

The King Encyclopedia

An easy-to-use reference for studying Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, made by the King Institute at Stanford University.

Movie or TV Productions

Selma

This 2014 movie dramatizes the March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Eyes on the Prize

A fourteen-hour television documentary series from PBS that chronicles the Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1985. It's worth every hour.

Driving Miss Daisy

This 1989 Best-Picture winner dramatized exactly what MLK was talking about when he expressed disappointment with "moderate" whites. Miss Daisy's an elderly lady who supports civil rights in theory and even goes to hear Dr. King speak when he comes to Atlanta. But she won't give her African American chauffeur and friend her extra ticket to the speech because she doesn't want to be seen sitting with him.

Articles and Interviews

Interview with Robert Penn Warren

Robert Penn Warren was a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who interviewed Dr. King in 1964.

Interview on Meet the Press

In 1960, Dr. King appeared on NBC's Meet the Press. Too bad Terry Gross was too young to get the opportunity to interview him. That would've been awesome.

Video

I Have a Dream Speech

You've heard about it a million times. Now you can watch it a million times. Thanks, YouTube.

Our Friend, Martin

"Our Friend, Martin" is a sometimes cheesy (okay, it's cheesy to the max) animated movie about a group of time travelling school kids who learn about the life and times of Dr. King.

Interview on the Merv Griffin Show

In 1967, Dr. King made an appearance on the Merv Griffin Show. It was a way to get the message out, we guess.

Audio

"I've Been to the Mountaintop"

This was Dr. King's last speech, in which he seemed to predicted his own death the next day.

"Beyond Vietnam"

One year before his death, Dr. King gave this major speech in opposition to the Vietnam War.

Images

Turn to the Right, Please.

Here's the mug shot of MLK prior to his being sent to the Birmingham Jail.

Dr. King

One of the classic portraits of Dr. King.

Dr. King at the March on Washington

Dr. King waving to the crowd at the Washington Memorial.

Various Document Scans

Stanford's King Institute has an archive of all sorts of documents, including Dr. King's speech notes. Marvel at the ancient communication device known as the telegram. Admire Dr. King's atrocious handwriting. Ooooh… aaaahhh…

Aftermath of Bombing near the Gaston Motel

As just one example of the kinds of attacks Dr. King and his colleagues were faced with, this is a picture of the effects of a bombing of a building near where Dr. King was staying.

Bull Connor's Canine Officers

Here's a lovely photo of some of the terror Connor's policies unleashed on the Black citizens of Birmingham.

RIP, MLK

The sadly famous photo of King's assassination in 1968, with is stunned friends pointing in the direction of the shots.