Dr. King in Mississippi

Dr. Martin Luther King was a lasting inspiration for our country. Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, his leadership helped millions of Americans achieve civil rights and changed the country for the better. His name has become synonymous with the idea of perseverance against adversity. He is celebrated across the United States and the world with bridges, schools, churches, and libraries that carry his name. According to Wikipedia, in Mississippi alone there are at least 22 towns with a Martin Luther King road, street, or boulevard. While he himself spent less time campaigning for change directly in Mississippi, Dr. King still held her people close to his heart. During his speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, King specifically calls out Mississippi as a place he hoped to see "transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice." King did visit our state several times during his short life and was present for some significant points in our history. Check our our brief timeline of some of the events below.

Dr. King flew from Atlanta, Georgia, to Jackson, Mississippi, on July 20, 1964. According to The New York Times, Dr. King was "on a five‐day tour of the state, raising money and support for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic party." On that trip, he visited the citizens of Philadelphia and Meridian. King also spoke about civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, who disappeared the month before after investigating a firebombed church. "Three young men came here to help set you free. They probably lost their lives. I know what you have suffered in this state, the lynchings and the murders. But things are going to get better. Walk together, children, don't you get weary." King flew back to Atlanta from Meridian on July 25.

Dr. Martin Luther King speaks at the Mississippi State Capitol; James Meredith sits beside him.
Meredith March Against Fear, Bob Fitch Photography Archive, Stanford Libraries

Nearly two years later, Dr. King returned to Mississippi, this time to aid local civil rights champion James Meredith. Meredith began his March Against Fear in Memphis on June 5, 1966, and had plans to walk all the way to Jackson. On only the second day of his rally, he was shot multiple times and rushed to a Memphis hospital. Dr. King and members of other prominent civil rights organizations, like Charles Evers of the NAACP and Fred McKissick of CORE, vowed to finish the march. They stopped at many of Mississippi's small towns along Highway 51, including Benton. Meredith recovered quickly and was able to rejoin the march. Dr. King's participation in the March Against Fear is documented in the Bob Fitch Photography Archive held at Stanford Libraries. Explore the photo collection at this link.

Dr. King's next Mississippi visit was very soon after, when he made an appearance in Grenada from September 19-20, 1966. He joined civil rights activists like Andrew Young and popular folk singer Joan Baez in forcing through the mandated integration of public schools in the small town. The words he used to encourage the young students were fondly remembered by them decades later, "Don't be afraid, baby. Go in and learn."

Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, MS, March 19, 1968

Dr. King's last visit to Mississippi was March 19-20, 1968. He came to rally support for his Poor People's Campaign in Washington, D.C., and made a whirlwind tour of Mississippi, stopping in Batesville, Clarksdale, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Laurel, Marks, and McComb. He was assassinated just two weeks later, on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. A nation mourned, Mississippi alongside it. The Poor People's Campaign lived on without Dr. King, as did so many of his dreams. On November 2, 1983, Ronald Reagan declared the third Monday in January Martin Luther King Day so that we all, our entire nation, can remember him and emulate his actions. Thank you, Dr. King.

In addition to the many linked sources in this blog post, I also consulted the book King: A Life by Jonathan Eig. 

Elisabeth Scott

Reference Librarian