Dr. King: A Life in Photos

In his last months, Martin Luther King saw poverty as the next struggle
By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 18, 2010 1:02 PM CST
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
1964: American civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr (1929 - 1968).   (Getty Images)

The Root takes the occasion of Martin Luther King Day to observe that Dr. King's focus in the last months of his life was an effort to broaden and convert the civil rights struggle into a campaign to end poverty among all Americans, not just those suffering racial discrimination. It was a risky and unpopular move for the minister, and one with particular resonance 43 years later, with an African-American president in the White House, but 16% of African Americans unemployed. For more photos of Dr. King, click here. (More Martin Luther King Jr. stories.)

Dr. King: A Life in Photos
American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks on the telephone after encountering a white mob protesting against the Freedom Riders in Montgomery, Alabama, May 26, 1961.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
Circa 1960: Clergyman and civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr. at a meeting.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
August 1963: Preisdent John F. Kennedy in the White House with leaders of the civil rights March on Washington, including, second from left, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
March 1965: Martin Luther King Jr. leads the Alabama Civil Rights march, flanked by supporters. Next to him is fellow campaigner Ralph Abernathy.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
President Lyndon B Johnson discusses the Voting Rights Act with civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr. The act trebled the number of black voters in the south, who had previously been hindered by racially inspired laws.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
September 1964: American clergyman and civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
28th August 1963: American minister and civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. waves to the crowd of more than 200,000 people gathered on the Mall during the March on Washington.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to reporters during a march en route to Jackson, Mississippi, June 11, 1966.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
8th April 1968: American civil rights activist Martin Luther King after his assassination in Memphis during a civil rights mission.   (Getty Images)
Dr. King: A Life in Photos
Casi Turner rides in a float with pictures of President-elect Barack Obama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as they honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. January 19, 2009 in Miami, Florida.   (Getty Images)