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Martin Luther King, Jr.

National Portrait Gallery

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
Location
Currently not on view
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.: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer\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.: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
Martin Luther King Jr.: Civilian awards\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

Related Content

  • 1968: A Year in the Collections

  • Martin Luther King Jr.

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