As his Nobel Peace Prize bio states, "In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action."
The following interviews, two of Dr. King's earliest extensive televised media appearances, show him at the beginning of that journey in 1957, a soft-spoken young man who handled both substantive and silly questions will equal poise and purpose.
Look Here - Part I
Look Here - Part II
Look Here - Part III
Denial of Early Dr. King Creates Another Mythology
Posted by: Brad Jacobson | January 19, 2009 at 01:56 PM
This is a significant and important post. We have forgotten how his words created significant tension among, not only the white community, but also the religious community.
We can only imagine how his message, re: violent America would be received today, considering the reaction to Michelle Obama's comment about finally being "proud" of her country.
King was a brave man who faced incredible odds. It was a strange, dangerous and violent time.
One example: In the mainstream Protestant church with which I was connected, members brought guns to Sunday worship for fear of possible violence by "rabble-rousing" blacks.
Progress was not merely slow. Sometimes it seemed we took one step back for every step forward.
Thanks for reminding us again of the reality of the struggle.
Posted by: Jacob | January 19, 2009 at 05:06 PM
That the human race can throw up a man such as this, however rarely, redeems the host of our petty malfeasance. The Gandhi's and Dr. King's make it possible to feel love not only for my fellows, but even for the more daunting task of loving myself.
Thank you for this post. I had not seen these earlier interviews (conducted in the year of my birth.)
Posted by: Petro | January 20, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Great stuff, thanks for writing about it.
Posted by: Standard Error | January 21, 2009 at 12:40 AM