"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.
On January 18, 2021 our nation marks the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. On this day we honor his life and legacy as a civil rights leader. W&M Libraries provides access to a host of resources chronicling the life and legacy of Dr. King. Below is a curated list of streaming video and other resources:
King in the Wilderness: From award-winning director/producer Peter Kunhardt, "King in the Wilderness" follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the volatile last three years of his life, from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in April 1968. Available through Films on Demand.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: A Historical Perspective - An Authorized Biography of a Civil Rights Hero: Using rare and largely unseen film footage and photographs, this film (endorsed by the King Foundation) explores how Dr. King's ideas, beliefs and methods evolved in the face of the rapidly changing climate of the Civil Rights Movement. Available through Kanopy.
I Am Not Your Negro: James Baldwin and Race in America: An Oscar-nominated documentary narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, I Am Not Your Negro explores the continued peril America faces from institutionalized racism. Available through Kanopy.
W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices: W.E.B. Du Bois' contributions and legacy have been so far-reaching, that this, his first film biography, required the collaboration of four prominent African American writers. Available through Kanopy.
At the River I Stand: The Climax of the Civil Rights Movement: At The River I Stand skillfully reconstructs the two eventful months that transformed a strike by Memphis sanitation worker into a national conflagration, and disentangles the complex historical forces that came together with the inevitability of tragedy at the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Available through Kanopy.
The Assassination of Martin Luther King: Infamous Assassinations: A BBC Production. A part of the series Infamous Assassinations. Films On Demand.
Tribute To Martin Luther King, Jr.: Tribute program in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program begins with newsreel footage of his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, followed by a commemorative church service held in Boston that spans the remainder of the program. Alexander Street.
Tony Brown's Journal: The MLK Dream You Can See: Harry Johnson, president of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., is helping to shape the vision of a memorial that would capture the essence of Dr. King's universal message of equality and freedom. Alexander Street.
Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Mountaintop" Speech (partial speech): This video features Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Mountaintop' speech from 1968. Alexander Street.
W&M Libraries also provides access to a number of databases on black history.