Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, 1968. Left: April 3. Right: April 4. Today is the 46th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. Below is the editorial I wrote for the Forward seven years ago, on what would have been his 78th birthday — the moment when the years since his death…
Rabbi Joachim Prinz (center) confers with Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington in 1963. / Getty Images As a Canadian Jew, I often feel a twinge of envy on Martin Luther King Day. I’m envious of larger-than-life heroes who succeed in uniting a nation around issues that are so blatantly about justice…
I met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on June 6, 1967 following his keynote address to several hundred American and foreign authors, publishers and booksellers at the American Booksellers Association’s (ABA—now renamed Book Expo) annual convention at Washington, D.C.’s Shoreham Hotel. Following the dinner, Dr. King, surrounded by security and members of his staff, graciously…
The following speech was delivered at this week’s ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Fifty years ago a Rabbi shared these steps with Dr. King and began his remarks by saying, “I speak to you as an American Jew.” My name is Alan van Capelle, and today I speak to you…
As we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and the majestic “I Have a Dream” speech, we should reflect on the singular role the Jewish community played throughout the civil rights struggle and, in particular, remember with pride Jewish participation in the March on Washington itself. No segment of American society outside…
When the Forward decided to run a feature commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Jewish influence on the seminal civil rights event, the first name discussed was that of Abraham Joshua Heschel, a close friend of Martin Luther King. Was he there? What role did he…
The Forward spoke with descendants of these men and others who took the stage and filled the National Mall on August 28, 1963
Well, the big news is out. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s immortal “I have a dream” speech, it seems racial inequality hasn’t improved over the years the way we’d hoped it would. In some ways it’s hardly budged. And we still can’t figure out why. If you’re following the…
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