Civil Rights Movement: Remembering MLK and our Nation’s History
Civil Rights Movement: Remembering MLK and our Nation’s History
“The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encompasses influential decisions, monumental actions, and steadfast progression of humanitarian rights that reach far beyond the Civil Rights Movement.” – https://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/dr-kings-legacy
Dr. Martin Luther King’s presence is found within our communities, throughout the United States, worldwide. Look around you and you will likely see places memorialized by Dr. King.
- Statues & monuments
- Parks, streets & squares
- Churches
- Museums
- Community spaces
To fight injustice and inequality, we need to get uncomfortable and take accountability. Everyday ways to fight racism include learning to recognize and understand your privilege, examining biases, and supporting the experiences of people of color.
One powerful way to get a glimpse of the experiences of Americans during the Civil Rights Movement is to visit sites that were pivotal in advancing social justice as part of the Civil Rights Trail by experiencing history and learning through impactful stories that will inspire the next generation to continue fighting for equality within our society for all people.
For a comprehensive experience and map which includes historic landmarks, churches, schools, museums, and more across 15 states that are part of the civil rights history, visit https://civilrightstrail.com/
Here is a list of National Sites to Add to Your Bucket List for places to visit with significant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the 1945-1968 Civil Rights Movement.
Atlanta, GA
MLK Jr. National Historical Park
https://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm
Historical Ebenezer Baptist Church
https://www.nps.gov/malu/planyourvisit/ebenezer_baptist_church.htm
MLK Birth Home
https://www.nps.gov/malu/planyourvisit/birth_home_tours.htm
The King Center
Moorehouse College
Memphis, TN
National Civil Rights Museum
https://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/
Montgomery, AL
National Memorial for Peace and Justice
https://legacysites.eji.org/about/memorial/
Legacy Museum
https://legacysites.eji.org/about/museum/
Rosa Parks Museum
https://www.troy.edu/student-life-resources/arts-culture/rosa-parks-museum/index.html
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
https://dexterkingmemorial.org/
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Kelly Ingram Park
https://civilrightstrail.com/attraction/kelly-ingram-park/
Washington, DC
Lincoln Memorial
https://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Boston, MA
Massachusetts State House
The Embrace Sculpture
https://massdesigngroup.org/work/design/embrace-hank-willis-thomas
Written By: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC