Martin Luther King, Jr.

Object Details

Artist

George Tames, 1919 - 1994

Sitter

Martin Luther King, Jr., 15 Jan 1929 - 4 Apr 1968

Exhibition Label

Calling it his “last, greatest dream,” Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) declared his intention to launch a broad-based effort to secure economic justice for the nation’s poor. During a press conference held on December 4, 1967, at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, King revealed initial plans for an extended campaign of mass civil disobedience in Washington, D.C., that would cross racial boundaries to bring together thousands of people living in poverty.

“This will be no mere one-day march in Washington,” he declared, “but a trek to the nation’s capital by suffering and outraged citizens who will stay until some definite and positive action is taken to provide jobs and income for the poor.” Led by King and sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the “Poor People’s Campaign” was slated to begin on April 22, 1968, but was delayed after King traveled to Memphis, where he was slain by a gunman on April 4.

Calificándolo como su “sueño último y más grande”, Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) declaró su intención de lanzar un esfuerzo de amplia base para garantizar justicia económica a los pobres del país. En una conferencia de prensa realizada en la Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer en Atlanta, el 4 de diciembre de 1967, King reveló los planes iniciales de una campaña de desobediencia civil masiva a largo plazo en Washington, D.C., que superaría las barreras raciales para unir a los miles de personas que vivían en la pobreza.

“Esto no será una mera marcha de un día en Washington”, declaró, “sino un viaje hacia la capital de la nación emprendido por ciudadanos sufrientes e indignados que permanecerán allí hasta que se tome alguna medida concreta y positiva para proporcionar empleos y medios de ingreso a los pobres”. Bajo la dirección de King y el auspicio de la Conferencia de Líderes Cristianos del Sur, la “campaña de los pobres” se programó para comenzar el 22 de abril de 1968, pero quedó pospuesta cuando King resultó muerto a tiros en una visita a Memphis el 4 de abril.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Frances O. Tames

1968

Object number

NPG.94.224

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© George Tames/The New York Times/Redux

Type

Photograph

Medium

Chromogenic print

Dimensions

Image: 27.9 x 19.1 cm (11 x 7 1/2")

Sheet: 35.6 x 28 cm (14 x 11")

Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Interior

Costume\Jewelry\Ring\Wedding Band

Artwork\Poster

Costume\Jewelry\Watch\Wrist watch

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Male

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Activist\Civil rights activist\Civil rights leader

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Religion and Spirituality\Clergy\Minister

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Nobel Prize

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Congressional Gold Medal

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.94.224

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4101806d3-cc3a-4833-868d-6b324f23f36f