Martin Luther King, leader of the civil rights movement, gives a speech outside the U.N. building. New York, USA. 1967. © Burt Glinn / Magnum Photos
Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to the crowds. Washington D.C., USA. 1957. © Bob Henriques / Magnum Photos
March on Washington. Washington D.C., USA. 1963. © Hiroji Kubota / Magnum Photos
Demonstrators sing "We Shall Overcome" after Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Washington D.C., USA. 1963. © Leonard Freed / Magnum Photos
The Selma March. Montgomery, Alabama. USA. 1965. © Bruce Davidson / Magnum Photos
The Selma March. Montgomery, Alabama. USA. 1965. © Bruce Davidson / Magnum Photos
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. being greeted on his return to the US after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Baltimore, Maryland. USA. October 31, 1964. © Leonard Freed / Magnum Photos
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Montgomery, Alabama. USA. 1995. © Eli Reed / Magnum Photos
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed for the first time 40 years ago, we celebrate King as the voice of nonviolent activism during the civil rights movement in America.
On May 17, 1957, Bob Henriques documented the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom at the Lincoln Memorial, where King gave his “Give Us the Ballot” speech, earning him national attention as a civil rights leader.
To a crowd of over 250,000 people in 1963, King delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech, one of the most celebrated addresses in history. The demonstration, captured by Leonard Freed, Bruce Davidson and Hiroji Kubota, led to the Civil Rights Act and inspired protests to come.
Davidson photographed the marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, which were central in passing the Voting Rights Act. The year before, King had become the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35.
Last week, King would have been 97 years old.
Learn more about Magnum’s documentation of Martin Luther King Jr.: https://bit.ly/4jN0tmw
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