Martin Luther King Jr.

==Legacy==
{{see also|Memorials to Martin Luther King Jr.|List of streets named after Martin Luther King Jr.}}
[[File:Martin Luther King memorial Westminster Abbey.jpg|thumb|upright|Martin Luther King Jr. statue over the west entrance of [[Westminster Abbey]], installed in 1998]]

===South Africa===
{{See also|Black Consciousness Movement}}

King's legacy includes influences on the [[Black Consciousness Movement]] and civil rights movement in South Africa.<ref>{{cite book |title=Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa |last= Ansell |first=Gwen |page=139 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |year=2005 |isbn=0-8264-1753-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us |last= Clinton |first= Hillary Rodham |page= [https://archive.org/details/ittakesvillage00clin/page/137 137] |isbn= 978-1-4165-4064-9 |publisher= Simon & Schuster |year= 2007 |url= https://archive.org/details/ittakesvillage00clin/page/137 }}</ref> King's work was cited by, and served as, an inspiration for South African leader [[Albert Luthuli]], who fought for racial justice in his country during [[apartheid]] and was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.{{sfn|King|1992|pp=307–308}}

===United Kingdom===
{{See also|Northern Ireland civil rights movement}}
[[John Hume]], the former leader of the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]], cited King's legacy as quintessential to the [[Northern Ireland civil rights movement]] and the signing of the [[Good Friday Agreement]], calling him "one of my great heroes of the century".<ref>{{cite web|title=Nobel Lecture|website=Nobelprize.org|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1998/hume-lecture.html|date=December 10, 1998|access-date=May 18, 2016|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624054943/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1998/hume-lecture.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=King remembered for civil rights achievements|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9901/18/mlk.03/|website=CNN|date=January 18, 1999|access-date=May 18, 2016|archive-date=August 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805055210/http://www.cnn.com/US/9901/18/mlk.03/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with John Hume (26 minutes)|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/?id=46|publisher=The Nobel Prize|date=August 31, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624200533/http://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/?id=46|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Martin Luther King Fund and Foundation in the UK was set up as a charity<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=MARTIN LUTHER KING FOUNDATION – Charity 260411 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/260411/full-print |access-date=April 27, 2022 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321175545/https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/260411/full-print |url-status=live }}</ref> on December 30, 1969, after King's assassination and following a visit to the UK in 1969 by his widow, [[Coretta Scott King|Coretta King]]. The Foundation's first chairman, Canon [[John Collins (priest)|John Collins]], stated that the Foundation was to be an active UK national campaign for racial equality, its work also to include community projects in areas of social need, and education.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Sheppard |first=David |title=Black People and Employment: The 1975 Martin Luther King Memorial Lecture |publisher=The Martin Luther King Foundation |year=1975 |page=1 |author-link=David Sheppard}}</ref> International Personnel (IP), an employment agency, was formed in 1970 out of the foundation's base in [[Balham]], to find employment for professionally qualified black people. In its first year, the agency placed ten percent of its applicants in jobs equal to their ability.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Wilfred |url=https://archive.org/details/keepfaithbaby0000wood |title=Keep the Faith, Baby! |publisher=The Bible Reading Fellowship |year=1994 |isbn=978-0745929651 |page=13}}</ref> The Balham Training Scheme operated an evening school with lecturers in Typing, Shorthand, English and Math.<ref name=":3" /> The foundation was removed from the Charity Commission list on November 18, 1996, as it had ceased to exist.<ref name=":1" />
The Northumbria and Newcastle Universities Martin Luther King Peace Committee<ref>{{cite web|url=https://research.ncl.ac.uk/martinlutherking/|title=Martin Luther King Peace Committee|website=Newcastle University|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-date=August 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814171943/https://research.ncl.ac.uk/martinlutherking/|url-status=live}}</ref> still exists to honor King's legacy, as represented by his final visit to the UK to receive an honorary degree from [[Newcastle University]] in 1967.<ref name="Newcastle ceremony">{{cite web|url=https://www.ncl.ac.uk/congregations/honorary/martinlutherking/|title=Martin Luther King Honorary Degree Ceremony|website=Newcastle University|access-date=December 18, 2018|archive-date=December 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000901/https://www.ncl.ac.uk/congregations/honorary/martinlutherking/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ward">{{cite journal|last=Ward|first=Brian|title=A King in Newcastle; Martin Luther King Jr. and British Race Relations, 1967–1968|journal=The Georgia Historical Quarterly|volume=79|issue=3|pages=599–632}}</ref> Northumbria and Newcastle remain centers for the study of Martin Luther King and the US civil rights movement. Inspired by King's vision, the committee undertakes a range of activities across the UK to "build cultures of peace".

In 2017, Newcastle University unveiled a bronze statue of King to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his honorary doctorate ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2017/11/martinlutherkingstatueunveiled/|title=Statue unveiled in honour of Martin Luther King Jr.|website=Newcastle University|author=Press Office|date=November 13, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2018|archive-date=July 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720132041/https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2017/11/martinlutherkingstatueunveiled/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Students Union also voted to rename their bar "Luther's".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-name-newcastle-universitys-student-12725758|title=New name for Newcastle University's Student Union Mensbar revealed|website=Chronicle Live|first=Hannah|last=Graham|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2018|archive-date=September 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912044307/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-name-newcastle-universitys-student-12725758|url-status=live}}</ref>

===United States===
[[File:'Today capitalism has outlived its usefulness' MLK.jpg|thumb|Banner at the [[2012 Republican National Convention]] ]]

King has become a national icon in the history of [[Modern liberalism in the United States|American liberalism]] and [[American progressivism]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Krugman|first=Paul R.|url=https://archive.org/details/conscienceoflib00krug/page/84|title=The Conscience of a Liberal|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|year=2009|isbn=978-0-393-33313-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/conscienceoflib00krug/page/84 84]}}</ref> His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the U.S. Just days after King's assassination, Congress passed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1968]].<ref name=HUDHistory>{{cite web|title=The History of Fair Housing|url=http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/aboutfheo/history|publisher=U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development|access-date=April 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327032116/http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=%2Fprogram_offices%2Ffair_housing_equal_opp%2Faboutfheo%2Fhistory|archive-date=March 27, 2012}}
</ref> Title VIII of the Act, commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibited discrimination in housing and housing-related transactions on the basis of race, religion, or national origin (later expanded to include sex, familial status, and disability). This legislation was seen as a tribute to King's struggle in his final years to combat residential discrimination.<ref name=HUDHistory /> The day following King's assassination, teacher [[Jane Elliott]] conducted her first "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise with her class of elementary school students to help them understand King's death as it related to racism.<ref>{{cite news|title= A Class Divided: One Friday in April, 1968|work= Frontline|publisher= PBS|last= Peters|first= William|url= https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/friday.html|date= January 1, 2003|access-date= June 15, 2008|archive-date= June 5, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080605044824/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/friday.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

King's wife Coretta Scott King was active in matters of social justice and civil rights until her death in 2006. The same year that King was assassinated, she established the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, dedicated to preserving his legacy and the work of championing nonviolent conflict resolution and tolerance worldwide.<ref name=KC-WEB1>{{cite web|title=The King Center's Mission|publisher=[[Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site|The King Center]]|url=http://www.thekingcenter.org/tkc/mission.asp| access-date=June 15, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080412114756/http://www.thekingcenter.org/tkc/mission.asp |archive-date=April 12, 2008}}
</ref> Their son, Dexter King, serves as the center's chairman.<ref>{{cite news|title=Future of Atlanta's King Center in limbo|work=USA Today|last=Copeland|first=Larry|date=February 1, 2006|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-31-king-center_x.htm|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-date=August 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829132426/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-31-king-center_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web| url =http://www.thekingcenter.org/tkc/chairman.asp |title= Chairman's Message: Introduction to the King Center and its Mission| publisher =The King Center| access-date=June 15, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080118102950/http://www.thekingcenter.org/tkc/chairman.asp | archive-date=January 18, 2008}}
</ref> Daughter Yolanda King, who died in 2007, was a motivational speaker, author and founder of Higher Ground Productions, an organization specializing in diversity training.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Higher Ground Productions |url=http://www.highergroundproductions.com/index2.htm |title=Welcome |access-date=June 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513175358/http://www.highergroundproductions.com/index2.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2008 }}</ref>

Within the King family, members disagree about his views about [[LGBT]] people. King's widow Coretta publicly said that she believed her husband would have supported [[gay rights]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Triple Evils|publisher= [[The King Center]]| url=http://www.thekingcenter.org/misc/triple_evils.htm| archive-url=https://archive.today/20080803150448/http://www.thekingcenter.org/misc/triple_evils.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 3, 2008| access-date=August 27, 2008 }}</ref> However, his youngest child, Bernice King, has said that he would have been opposed to [[gay marriage]].<ref name=MPR-WEB1>{{cite news|last= Williams|first= Brandt|title= What would Martin Luther King do?|publisher= [[Minnesota Public Radio]]|date= January 16, 2005|url= http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/01/17_williamsb_wwmlkd/|access-date= August 27, 2008|archive-date= July 19, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080719231916/http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/01/17_williamsb_wwmlkd/|url-status= live}}</ref>

====Martin Luther King Jr. Day====
{{Main|Martin Luther King Jr. Day}}
Beginning in 1971, cities and states established annual holidays to honor King.<ref name="stlouis">{{Cite web|date=January 21, 2014|title=St. Louis Remains A Stronghold For Dr. King's Dream|url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2014-01-20/st-louis-remains-a-stronghold-for-dr-kings-dream|access-date=March 18, 2022|website=STLPR|language=en|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411091048/https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2014-01-20/st-louis-remains-a-stronghold-for-dr-kings-dream|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 2, 1983, President [[Ronald Reagan]] signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. Observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, it is called [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]]. Following President [[George H. W. Bush]]'s 1992 proclamation, the holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King's birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=47329|title=Proclamation 6401&nbsp;– Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday|year=1992|publisher=The American Presidency Project|access-date=September 8, 2008|archive-date=October 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005092831/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=47329|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Luther King Day|publisher=U.S. Department of State| url= http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/mlkbday.htm|access-date=June 15, 2008 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080328081425/http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/mlkbday.htm |archive-date=March 28, 2008}}</ref> On January 17, 2000, for the first time, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed in all fifty U.S. states.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/26/us/contrarian-new-hampshire-to-honor-dr-king-at-last.html|title=Contrarian New Hampshire To Honor Dr. King, at Last|work=The New York Times|last=Goldberg|first=Carey|date=May 26, 1999|access-date=June 15, 2008|archive-date=July 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729104406/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/26/us/contrarian-new-hampshire-to-honor-dr-king-at-last.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Arizona]] (1992), [[New Hampshire]] (1999) and [[Utah]] (2000) were the last states to recognize the holiday. Utah previously celebrated the holiday under the name Human Rights Day.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkhistory1.html| title=The History of Martin Luther King Day| publisher=Infoplease| year=2007| access-date=July 4, 2011| archive-date=July 4, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704203142/http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkhistory1.html| url-status=live}}</ref>