Video: 'Martin Luther King's Last Speech: "I've Been To The Mountaintop"'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1968, 9:00 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — In what turned out to be his final speech, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech at a rally of striking sanitation workers at the Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters) in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading King delivers ‘Mountaintop’ speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 28, 1968, at 29:16)

(Thursday, March 28, 1968, march began shortly after 11 a.m. CST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968)) — Larry Payne, a 16-year-old African-American youth, was shot to death by police today in violence surrounding a massive protest march that was led through downtown Memphis by the Rev. Dr. Martin. Luther King Jr. Continue reading Boy, 16, killed as Memphis march turns violent 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 28 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 26, 1968, at 28:44)

(Tuesday, March 26, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. was met with some indifference today in the Harlem section of New York City as he continued his people-to-people tour of the nation to rally support for his Poor People’s Campaign. Continue reading King promotes Poor People’s Campaign in Harlem 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 26 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 19, 1968, at 27:10)

(Tuesday, March 19, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., returned to Marks, Mississippi, today as part of his people-to-people tour of the nation to rally support for his Poor People’s Campaign, declaring, “I want some of you all to go to Washington with us, even if you have to bring your whole family.” Continue reading King rallies support for Poor People’s Campaign 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 19 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 18, 1968, at 26:10)

(Monday, March 18, 1968, after 9:00 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., who was in the midst of organizing the Poor People’s Campaign, flew into Memphis today to call for a citywide march in support of striking sanitation workers. Continue reading King calls for citywide march in Memphis 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 8) Two Societies 1965–1968' (Kerner Commission at 51:49)

(Thursday, February 29, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — The Kerner Commission, officially known as the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, released its report on riots of the previous summer today and highlighted racial discrimination in the United States as a primary cause with the ominous warning, “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” Continue reading White racism main cause of riots, says commission 50 years ago #Leapday (Feb 29 1968) →

Video: 'Eldridge Cleaver: Soul on Ice' (9 videos)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1968) — Soul On Ice, a memoir and collection of essays by Eldridge Cleaver that changed the way America looked at the civil rights movement and the black experience, was published today. Continue reading ‘Soul on Ice’ by Eldridge Cleaver published 50 years ago #OTD #OnThisDay (Feb 28 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Feb 23, 1968, at 23:49)

(Friday, February 23, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Police moved in with night sticks and gas guns today in Memphis as the city’s black leaders marched with workers eleven days into the Memphis sanitation strike. Continue reading Police attack sanitation strikers in Memphis 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1968) →