Marching for the King 50 years later to commemorate a hero of social justice takes on new meaning and energy in 2018. Today the world celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 50 years after his violent assassination at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, TN. Nearly 100,000 people across the globe will be in Memphis to honor the memory of the Nobel Peace Prize winner on April 4th. Americans will be marching in communities nationwide to commemorate MLK50. Hundreds of thousands more are expected to watch the festivities via television, cable, the internet and livestreaming. Where do we go from here?

Celebrating the king in the new decade
Courtesy of the National Civil Rights Museum

MLK50: A Legacy Remembered opens at the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) on April 4 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary commemoration of Dr. King’s tragic death. Featuring over 150 photographs including rare photos, documents and other items, the exhibition surveys the historic reaction to his death while also examining the continued impact of his legacy on people and events throughout the world.

Focusing on his last year, the exhibition emphasizes rarely examined aspects of King’s social justice agenda by comparing contemporary events.

marching for the king 50 years later

“We want to not only show the aftermath of those events but also illustrate King’s influence on everything from modern social justice movements to politics to pop culture in the years since then. From Elvis to President Obama, Nichelle Nichols to Black Lives Matter, Dr. King’s legacy has had a lasting impact on our society and culture.” — aid Noelle Trent, NCRM’s Director of Interpretation, Collections & Education

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

marching for the king 50 years later

Dr. King’s aptly titled final book Where Do We Go From Here has a new answer 50 years later. Initially posed to address his lifelong activism for civil rights, equality and peace, the next generation of leaders is answering his question with the birth of the largest anti-gun violence movement in United States history – Enough is Enough.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Socially Sparked® our lives. He leaves a lasting legacy that continues today with an energetic resurgence. A hero to millions in the fight for civil rights, racial equality and peace, today’s commemoration of his tragic death due to gun violence breathes added fire to an already ignited cause. — Abbe is Socially Sparked! Tweet @sosparkednews & @asparks01