Monday, January 18, 2016

MLK


[“Martin Luther King Trial Montgomery Alabama Intergration.” Photograph by Grey Villet. Montgomery, Alabama. From the Life Photo Archive.]

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929.

The Life Photo Archive gives no date for this photograph or other Villet photographs with the same description. The context, I think: King was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, on September 3, 1958, when he tried to enter a courtroom for the arraignment of a man accused of attacking Ralph Abernathy. King had refused to obey a police order to move on. More information here and here.

If King were alive today, the hatred, inequality, xenophobia, and violence that pervade our American culture would cause him to weep — and do more than weep.

comments: 2

Pete said...

Thank you for posting this. It prompted me to finally read "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" in its entirety. Powerful, timeless words.

Michael Leddy said...

You’re welcome, Pete. I read it this past spring when teaching Antigone . KIndred spirits, I’d say, though the differences are considerable.