Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement.

In 1986, a US national holiday was established in honor of his life and achievements, which is called Martin Luther King Day. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, 15th January 1929.

I was listening to a show recently, which was produced in co-operation with The Chicago Urban League, called The Birth of a League, and which details the story of how the Urban League was started, during the time when many were migrating to the Northern Cities. 

The Urban League is still the oldest and largest community-based organization of its kind in the nation - a non partisan civil right organization which advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. 

Founded in 1910, the National Urban League counseled recent black migrants to urban areas in the North and South, assisted in the training of social workers for this population, and provided educational and increased employment opportunities in industry. 

Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference joined with the National Urban League in the struggle for African American economic rights, and in a 31st July telegram to the organization’s officers and delegates on the occasion of its 1963 national convention, King praised the Urban League, and pledged the SCLC's full support.

The old time radio series, Destination Freedom, was one of the most powerful and important shows of its day, and became perhaps the strongest plea for African-American rights ever heard on US Radio. You can listen to the series on RUSC today, with more shows being added this week and in the coming weeks up to National Freedom Day on 1st February.

Happy listening my friends,