About Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King and Civil Rights Resources
Martin Luther King Resources
Primary Documents & Archives
Library of Congress Civil Rights Primary Sources – primary images, speeches, documents, and lesson plans about Brown v. Board, Rosa Parks, Little Rock Nine, and more.
Civil Rights Movement Archive – extensive database of photos, speeches, oral histories, and texts from activists of the movement.
Interactive & Multimedia
The King Center – Classroom Resources – videos, interactive talks, nonviolence education and youth reading activities.
PBS Learning Media: MLK & Civil Rights – teacher/student interactive videos.
EBSCO / Academic Databases
Use your CMC library access to search for scholarly articles, book chapters, and peer-reviewed essays:
Academic Search Complete – search “Martin Luther King Jr.” or Civil Rights Movement
America: History & Life – primary & secondary sources on U.S. history
History Reference Center – contextual encyclopedia entries & biographies
Search Tip: Combine terms like “Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963” and “Selma Voting Rights” for focused articles.
Learning Path & Classroom Activities
Begin Here
Watch an introductory video or lecture on King’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance. (King Center Classroom)
Explore LOC primary source set on key protests (e.g., lunch counter sit-ins, Freedom Rides).
Research & Reflection
Compare different debates within the movement (nonviolence vs. Black Power).
Write a research paper on a lesser-studied figure from the movement using Civil Rights Movement Archive materials.
Discussion Questions
What was King’s model of nonviolent resistance?
How did federal laws like the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965) reflect movement goals?
How does King’s legacy influence modern social justice movements?