Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Legacy

Posted on January 18, 2010

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a sword that heals. [It] cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

At the heart of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s was the use of nonviolent direct-action protest. Inspired by the example of Jesus, and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi during India’s struggle for independence, black church and community leaders in the United States began advocating the use of non-violence in their own struggle. Beyond spontaneous and planned student sit-ins, several organizations were formed to fight for civil rights using Gandhi’s model of nonviolent dissent and action. Three of the most influential groups—the Congress of Racial Equality, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee—were pivotal in bringing about social change in America. 

Read more about the life of King, Jr. on the Independent Lens website >> 

Check out the PBS Indies page on iTunes where you'll find these powerful films about the African American civil rights movement.

Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Green 
The unlikely story of America's original shock-jock — Petey Greene — who battled the system and his own demons during a time of civil unrest in the nation's capital.

Banished
From the 1860s to the 1920s, towns across the U.S. violently expelled African American residents. Today, these communities remain virtually all white. As black descendants return to demand justice, Banished exposes the hidden history of racial cleansing in America. Each film is now available for rent for $2.99 or for purchase at $9.99. Visit the iTunes store >>


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