Martin Luther King, Jr. Links for Learning - Books

Martin Luther King. Jr. teaching and learning resources for teachers and students - books, videos, music, posters, school supplies, educational links for civil rights, peace education...

Books

I Have A Dream: Writing and Speeches that Changed the World - King’s most memorable writings and speeches, now available in a concise and convenient paperback edition--complete with a biography of King and a historical review of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King- Historian Clayborne Carson organized King's writings into a posthumous autobiography. [look inside- 35 sample pages at Amazon]

A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.-
a milestone collection of Dr. King's most influential and best-known speeches. [read more- 27 sample pages at Amazon- also available in audio]

Community, Violence, and Peace: Aldo Leopold, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gautama the Buddha in the Twenty-First Century by A. L. Herman- explores the concept of community and the belief that it can resolve the dilemmas of excessive violence and insufficient peace in the twenty-first century. [read more 16 sample pages at Amazon]

The Eyes on the Prize: Civil Rights Reader: Documents, Speeches, and Firsthand Accounts from the Black Freedom Struggle, 1954-1990 by Clayborne Carson, Martin Luther, Jr. King, David J. Garrow (Editor), Darlene Clark Hine (Editor)- collection of over 100 court decisions, speeches, interviews, and other documents on the civil rights movement from 1954 to 1990; this is one of several volumes produced in conjunction with the 14-part PBS Eyes on the Prize television series.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo, J. Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)- for ages 4-8- brief picture-book biography for very young children.

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine, Anna Rich- for ages 9-12- excellent introduction to the Civil Rights Movement for children. Part of the "If You Lived" series.

The Day Martin Luther King Jr. Was Shot: A Photo History of the Civil Rights Movement by James Haskins- for ages 9-12- readable and attractive photo essay recounting the struggle for civil rights in the U. S.; included are brief accounts of brave individuals, both black and white, may lead readers to more detailed study.

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther, Jr. King, Coretta Scott King- for ages 4-8- 15 illustrators, Coretta Scott King's foreword, and an appended two-page biography of Martin Luther King Jr. create a unique context for his famous speech of 1963. [read more- 5 sample pages at Amazon]

Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther, Jr.- examines the history of the civil rights struggle and the tasks that future generations must accomplish to bring about full equality for African Americans.

Videos

In Rememberance of Martin (PBS Documentary 1998) Personal comments from family members, friends, former classmates and advisors are chronicled in this documentary honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Coretta Scott King is joined by Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Julian Bond, former President Jimmy Carter, Bill Cosby, Bishop Desmond Tutu and others, who remember highlights in Dr. King’s career. Dramatic footage traces King's leadership in the Civil Rights movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, his "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, and more.

The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1993) Contains footage of King’s work on poverty, discrimination, and unequal distribution of wealth in US, presenting a compelling arguement that Dr. King was killed by a conspiracy.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (A&E Biography 1997) - Documentary footage of his speeches and interviews with friends and associates.

Martin Luther King, Jr. - “I Have a Dream” (1986) (video)- One of the greatest and most memorable moments in the civil rights movement occurred when 200,000 people marched on Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. Not only was the gathering of so many united people extraordinary, but that day Martin Luther King Jr. stood before the marchers and delivered his most eloquent and inspiring speech. This video offers the “I Have a Dream” speech in its entirety, as well as footage of the opposition the protesters faced, such as the fire hoses the police in Alabama used to disperse the crowds.

Martin Luther King Commeorative Collection- interviews and footage of Martin Luther King Jr., and a well-rounded picture of the civil-rights movement, beginning with a conversation with Coretta Scott King, Dr. King's wife, describing how her husband's mission has guided how she lives her life today.

CDs

Martin Luther King Tapes- Four speeches- The Great march to Freedom, The Great march to Washington, Free At Last and Eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy.

Sing For Freedom: The Story Of The Civil Rights Movement Through Its Songs- Great resource for the classroom, listen to samples on Amazon.

Voices Of The Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966- for anyone interested in the civil rights freedom struggle of the 1960s, listen to samples on Amazon.

If I Had a Hammer: Songs of Hope & Struggle by Pete Seeger- an absolute must if you are teaching history of the 20th Century- also download several free MP3 songs from this page.