Honoring Martin Luther King Jr January 20th 2025
As we look to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, it’s important to remember that he was not just a civil rights activist. He was a man of faith, a husband and a strategic visionary.
The contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can’t be defined by just one single moment in time. On the contrary, his fulfillment of purpose was a culmination of events before, during, and after his time here on earth. Known for his non-violent approach to social justice, King Jr. was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for Non-Violence in 1964. He was assassinated four years later.
January 20 marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal holiday that honors the life and legacy of the American civil rights icon who was assassinated in 1968.
The holiday didn’t come together seamlessly. Efforts from King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, lawmakers, activists and others took years.
Learn more about the history of Martin Luther King Jr Day
Below you’ll find movies and books to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. You’l also find activities for kids that are educational and fun.
Movies & Documentaries About Martin Luther King Jr
- I am MLK Jr (2018)
- Four Died Trying (2023)
- Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise (2016)
- King in the Wilderness (2018)
- The Boy King (1986)
- Selma (2015)
- Genius: MLK/X (2024)
- Betty & Coretta (2013)
- Boycott (2001)
- MLK/FBI (2021)
MLK Activities for Kids Worksheets & Hands-on Activities
Study the dreams of Martin Luther Kind Jr. and draft some of your own with these resources about this courageous and powerful leader, writer, and scholar. Click to visit browse and download the activities.
Books by Martin Luther King Jr.
- The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Why We Can’t Wait
- Letter from the Birmingham Jail
- Strength to Love
- Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?
- I Have a Dream
- A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
- I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World
- The Radical King
- Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
Essential Books on Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Bearing the Cross by David Garrow
- Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
- Let the Trumpet Sound by Stephen B. Oates
- The Sword and the Shield by Peniel E. Joseph
- The Seminarian by Patrick Parr
- Death of a King by Tavis Smiley
- My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. by Coretta Scott King
- Becoming King by Troy Jackson
- Pillar of Fire by Taylor Branch
- The Promise and the Dream by David Margolick
- Kennedy and King by Steven Levingston
- I May Not Get There With You by Michael Eric Dyson
- Martin’s Dream by Clayborne Carson
- King: Pilgrimage to the Mountaintop by Harvard Sitkoff
- The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs
- The Dream by Drew Hansen
- Martin Luther King, Jr.: On Leadership by Donald T. Phillips
Sources:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Day
- https://kidactivities.net/childrens-activities-for-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day/
- https://www.education.com/resources/martin-luther-king-jr-day
- https://dela.ent.sirsi.net/
- https://brooksysociety.com/the-20-best-books-on-martin-luther-king-jr/
- https://parade.com/1149740/lynnette-nicholas/martin-luther-king-jr-movies/
- https://www.essence.com/entertainment/10-movies-documentaries-watch-mlk-day/
