Martin Luther King Jr.’s handwriting shifts from cursive to print in a draft of his letter to the Birmingham City Council. The sentence “We will have to face the fact that we are now dealing with beasts” appears first in cursive, then is rewritten in print with the word “beasts” crossed out and replaced with “men.” A later revision alters this to “human beings.”
The phrase “I am satisfied that if I had not been arrested repeatedly during the past twelve or thirteen years” is repeated across multiple drafts. Each version varies slightly, with some including a pause after “satisfied” and others omitting it altogether.
In one version of his sermon, King writes “I have come to realize that my struggles are part of a larger movement.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten as “I have come to see that our struggles are part of a larger struggle.”
A letter from Coretta Scott King includes the phrase “the darkness is almost palpable” in the margin, beneath an annotation that reads “do not use this phrase.” It is unclear why she did not include it.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s journal entries often begin with fragments of sentences or phrases. One entry reads: “The tension in Montgomery is growing… We must find a way to bring attention to our cause…” The sentences trail off, unfinished.
In another version of his speech, King writes: “We are living in the midst of an existential crisis.” The phrase appears again later in the draft, but this time with the word “crisis” crossed out and replaced with “emergency.”
The draft of a letter to a friend includes the sentence: “I am trying to find words to express the depth of my sorrow.” The sentence is left unfinished.
A witness account from a fellow civil rights leader describes a meeting between King and other leaders, noting that they discussed “the need for nonviolent resistance” but also acknowledged the difficulty of implementing it.
One draft reads: “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” The phrase is repeated throughout multiple drafts, with slight variations in wording.
The record repeats the phrase “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” across several versions. Each iteration varies slightly, with some including a pause after “justice.”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s handwriting becomes more erratic as he writes: “We will not be satisfied… until we can walk through the city streets without fear of harassment or intimidation.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A later revision alters this to “until we can live in our homes without worry of being torn apart by violence.”
The phrase “love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend” appears across multiple drafts, each time with slight variations in wording.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s notes from a meeting with other civil rights leaders include a discussion on the importance of building alliances with white supporters. The phrase “we must not underestimate the power of the silent majority” is scribbled in the margin, but later crossed out.
A draft of his speech to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference includes the sentence: “We are not just fighting for civil rights, we are fighting for human dignity.” The phrase is repeated throughout multiple drafts, with slight variations in wording.
He wrote that he would continue to push for justice, even if it meant going against what was usual.
A witness account from a young civil rights activist describes attending a meeting where King spoke on the importance of nonviolent resistance. The note reads: “Dr. King’s words were like a breath of fresh air, reminding us that our struggle is not just about winning, but about being true to ourselves.”
The draft of a speech includes the phrase: “We must find a way to balance our desire for justice with the need for patience and understanding.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A later revision alters this to “we must find a way to reconcile our anger with our love for humanity.”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s notes from a meeting with other civil rights leaders include a discussion on the importance of building alliances with labor unions. The phrase “the working class is the backbone of any movement” is scribbled in the margin, beneath an annotation that reads “remember to emphasize this point.”
A draft of his speech includes the sentence: “We are not just fighting against segregation, we are fighting for a world where every individual can live with dignity and respect.” The phrase is repeated throughout multiple drafts, with slight variations in wording.
In one version of his letter to a prominent civil rights organization, King writes: “I am convinced that our movement will be judged by its commitment to nonviolence.” A later revision alters this to “our commitment to nonviolence is not just a tactic, but a way of life.”
A witness account from a fellow civil rights leader describes attending a meeting where King spoke on the importance of using nonviolent direct action. The note reads: “Dr. King’s words were like a clarion call, reminding us that we must be willing to take risks for what is right.”
The draft of a speech includes the phrase: “We must find a way to reconcile our faith with our activism.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A later revision alters this to “we must find a way to live out our values in the face of oppression.”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s notes from a meeting with other civil rights leaders include a discussion on the importance of building relationships with local churches. The phrase “the church is not just a place of worship, but a source of strength and inspiration” is scribbled in the margin, beneath an annotation that reads “remember to emphasize this point.”
A draft of his sermon includes the sentence: “We are living in a world where the line between good and evil is becoming increasingly blurred.” The phrase is repeated throughout multiple drafts, with slight variations in wording.
In one version of his letter to a prominent politician, King writes: “I urge you to recognize the humanity in every individual, regardless of their skin color or background.” A later revision alters this to “we must see ourselves in each other’s eyes.”
A witness account from a young civil rights activist describes attending a meeting where King spoke on the importance of personal responsibility. The note reads: “Dr. King reminded us that our individual actions can make a difference in creating change.”
The draft of a speech includes the phrase: “We must find a way to break free from the chains of oppression, not just for ourselves, but for future generations.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A later revision alters this to “we must find a way to shatter the status quo and create a new world order.”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s journal entries often include personal reflections on his own faith. One entry reads: “I am convinced that God is not a distant figure, but a present reality who walks with us in our struggles.”
A fragment from Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon notes includes the phrase “the weight of history is upon us” scribbled in the margin. A nearby annotation reads “remember to emphasize this point”.
A draft of his letter to a prominent civil rights leader includes the sentence: “I am convinced that our movement will be judged by its ability to bring people together across racial and economic lines.” The phrase is repeated throughout multiple drafts, with slight variations in wording.
In one version of his speech, King writes: “We are living in a world where the struggle for justice is not just a moral imperative, but an existential necessity.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten as “the struggle for justice is not just a moral obligation, but a human right.”
A witness account from a fellow civil rights leader describes attending a meeting where King spoke on the importance of nonviolent resistance in the face of violence. The note reads: “Dr. King reminded us that even in the midst of turmoil, we must remain committed to our principles and values”.
The draft of a speech includes the phrase: “We must find a way to balance our desire for justice with the need for compassion and empathy.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A later revision alters this to “we must find a way to reconcile our outrage with our love for humanity”.
The draft of Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon includes the phrase: “We are living in a world where the forces of evil are arrayed against us, but we must not be afraid.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A fragment from Martin Luther King Jr.’s journal reads: “I am haunted by the specter of injustice and inequality, but I am also inspired by the resilience and determination of our people.”
In one version of his letter to a prominent politician, King writes: “I urge you to recognize that our struggle is not just for civil rights, but for human dignity and worth.” A later revision alters this to “we must see ourselves as part of a larger community, bound together by our shared humanity”.
A witness account from a young civil rights activist describes attending a meeting where King spoke on the importance of education in the struggle for justice. The note reads: “Dr. King reminded us that knowledge is power, and that we must educate ourselves and others to create real change”.
The draft of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech includes the phrase: “We must find a way to overcome our fears and doubts, and to trust in the power of love and nonviolence.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
A later revision alters this to “we must have faith that justice will prevail, even when it seems impossible”.
A draft of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech includes a paragraph on the importance of self-reflection: “We must take time to examine our own hearts and minds, to confront our own biases and prejudices.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten multiple times.
In one version of his letter to a fellow civil rights leader, King writes: “I am convinced that our movement will be judged by its ability to create lasting change, not just temporary gains.” A later revision alters this to “our movement must strive for transformation, not just reform”.
A witness account from a local community member describes attending a meeting where King spoke on the importance of economic empowerment. The note reads: “Dr. King reminded us that true freedom is not just about civil rights, but about having access to education, employment, and healthcare”.
The draft of Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon includes the phrase: “We are living in a world where the line between justice and injustice is becoming increasingly clear.” The sentence is repeated throughout multiple drafts, with slight variations in wording.
In one version of his speech, King writes: “I implore you to remember that we are not just fighting for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.” A later revision alters this to “we must think about the world we want to create for future generations”.
A fragment from Martin Luther King Jr.’s journal reads: “I am convinced that the key to our success lies in building a coalition of people from all walks of life.”
The draft of a speech includes a section on the importance of grassroots organizing, where King writes: “We must empower local communities to take control of their own destiny.” The sentence is crossed out and rewritten as “we must build a movement from the ground up.”
A later revision alters this to “we must create a web of relationships that spans across different cities and towns.”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s notes from a meeting with other civil rights leaders include a discussion on the importance of using nonviolent direct action to challenge unjust systems. The phrase “we must use our bodies as instruments of change” is scribbled in the margin, beneath an annotation that reads “remember to emphasize this point.”
A draft of his letter to a prominent politician includes the sentence: “I urge you to recognize that our struggle is not just for civil rights, but for human rights and dignity.” A later revision alters this to “we must see ourselves as part of a larger global community, bound together by our shared humanity”.
The record repeats the phrase “the time has come for us to join hands with each other” across several versions. Each iteration varies slightly, with some including a pause after “hands”.