“When outrage and shame together shall one day have vindicated the promise of legal, social and economic opportunity for all citizens, the gratitude of peoples everywhere and of generations of Americans yet unborn will echo our admiration.”
- citation from the honorary doctor of laws degree from Yale awarded to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964 by Yale president Kingman Brewster Jr.
On this custom designed travel program taking place October 23 - 30, 2022, you'll trace the history of the Civil Rights movement, with Yale Professor Crystal Feimster. Visit the major sites of the movement—from Alabama to Mississippi to Arkansas, and Tennessee.
The visits to Yale by Martin Luther King Jr (1959 and 1964) and Coretta Scott King (1969) are documented in Manuscripts and Archives at Yale's Sterling Library. King was invited to Yale in 1959 by an undergraduate lecture committee and spoke on "The Future of Integration."
In 1964, The New York Times covered the story of Dr. King 's honorary degree from Yale. "The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received a standing ovation today from 10,000 persons at Yale University's 263d commencement. The tribute came as the 35 year‐old Negro leader received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Kingman Brewster Jr., president of Yale."
This article, authored by Judith Ann Schiff, chief research archivist at the Yale University Library, appeared in Yale Alumni Magazine in 2004. "In June 1964, when the news came out that Martin Luther King Jr. had been bailed out of jail to receive an honorary degree at Yale, the Minneapolis Tribune editorialized on “Yale’s Good Example.” The Hartford Courant declared that “it was a good day for the Rev. Martin Luther King. It was an..."
The Rev, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used Langston Hughes’ poetry in his sermons and speeches from 1956-1968. This Mondays at Beinecke gallery talk from Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2021, traces King's mighty oratory inspiration back to Langston Hughes.
This quote from the presentation summarizes its message: "Dr. King became the star performer of some of Langston Hughes’ greatest scripts."
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed more than 2,000 members of the Yale and New Haven community in Woolsey Hall on January 14, 1959, the eve of his 30th birthday. Here are some of his words, read by Yale students.
At the Yale Art Gallery: Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative Bronze medal minted in 2004. This medal honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King for their many contributions to the Nation on behalf of the civil rights movement. It is a bronze duplicate of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded posthumously by President Obama – on behalf of Congress – to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
This playlist is available via Spotify. Click any speech title above to listen on this page. Scroll down using the scroll-bar on the right of the image to see more speeches. If you do not see a media player above, use this link to open the playlist of speeches in a new window. (Requires a free registration on Spotify).
Over 90 years after his birth, we look back on King's legacy with these vital reads. The following King biographies, memoirs, and writings set his work in the context it was created—something often sadly lacking in our discussion of the trail-blazing speaker's life and history. Reintroduce yourself to an icon; along the way, you'll meet the man.
Explore the collection of writings and books by and about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. compiled by The King Center. This comprehensive list includes not only Dr. King's writings and speeches, but also books by Dr. King's family members, books about the Civil Rights Movement and books about Non-Violence
Readers interested to know more about the iconic civil rights hero can choose from a wide range of literary options — from shorter books that give an easily digestible overview of his life, to multi-volume tomes exploring his every action in great detail. While some books take a holistic approach toward the life of the man, others focus in on sub-topics of his legacy.
The preserved Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church appears as it did when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served here as pastor, from 1954-1960. The church was the site of mass meetings to organize the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott.
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, also known as the March on Washington, was held on August 28, 1963, and culminated at the Lincoln Memorial. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Ebenezer Baptist Church is a living tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is where he was baptized, ordained and served as co-pastor with his father until 1968. The church played a valuable role in influencing Dr. King’s Christian values and his pursuit of justice and equality.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the first African-American to be honored with a memorial on the National Mall. The monument captures the unwavering faith, strength and leadership of our nation’s greatest civil rights leader through two massive granite structures – the “Stone of Hope” hewn from the “Mountain of Despair.”
With the historic Lorraine Motel façade in tact, this is the building in which visitors can see Room 306 where Dr. King spent his final hours. In addition, the museum's updated, modern design reminds visitors of its charge to keep pushing civil rights issues forward.
Explore more: The museum offers 260 artifacts, more than 40 new films, oral histories, interactive media and external listening posts that guide visitors through five centuries of history — from the beginning of the resistance during slavery, through the Civil War and Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crow, and the seminal events of the late 20th century that inspired people around the world to stand up for equality.
Follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr. with the five significant sites shown above that Yale Alumni Academy has chosen for this virtual tour of the Civil Rights Trail. We suggest that as you visit each site, you listen to the corresponding speech while pondering the life and times of this historic leader. To continue your journey on the National Civil Rights Trail, follow the link below.
This website allows you to explore the destinations important to the Civil Rights Movement, and chart your journey to cities along the trail. From Topeka, Kansas, to Memphis, Tennessee, from Atlanta, Georgia, to Selma and Birmingham, and all the way to Washington, DC, follow the course of the Civil Rights Movement through the Civil Rights Trail. On this site, you’ll find places to see and things to do at each destination. Plus, you’ll find in-depth explorations crafted to allow you to experience the destination or event in a more comprehensive way. Discover the trail. Discover the fight for civil rights. And make sure the true stories that changed history are never lost.