King's Last March

April 4, 2018, marks 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to death at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. A deep look at the last year of King’s life, reveals the forces working against him, the stresses of leadership, and the work that was left undone. At a time when protests, police response and government accountability have surged back into the news, King’s life and work have never been more relevant.

Episodes

Coming soon: King's Last March

March 27, 2018 • 2 mins

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to death in Memphis, Tenn. Half a century later, he remains a vivid symbol of hope for racial equality in America. But his politics were much more complex - and radical -- than most people realize. King's Last March, coming April 4, explores the lesser-known story of the Civil Rights icon's last year of life.

Mark as Played

1: Beyond Vietnam

April 3, 2018 • 15 mins

Exactly one year before his death, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in Riverside Church and denounced the Vietnam War. It was a radical move - and it may have been the beginning of the end for King.

Mark as Played

2: Unfulfilled Dreams

April 3, 2018 • 14 mins

In the last months of his life, Martin Luther King Jr. struggled to launch a new phase in the civil rights movement: He wanted to bring the nation's poor to Washington D.C. for what he hoped would be the longest running protest in history.

Mark as Played

3: To 'Prevent the Rise of a Messiah'

April 3, 2018 • 20 mins

Under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI conducted a relentless campaign to track, spy on and harass Martin Luther King Jr. All tactics were fair game in their effort to "neutralize" the civil rights leader.

Mark as Played

4: I Am a Man

April 3, 2018 • 14 mins

In the spring of 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. disregarded the advice of his entire staff and traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, in support of striking sanitation workers.

Mark as Played

5: April 4th, 1968

April 3, 2018 • 12 mins

Fifty years ago, at 6:00 in the evening, Martin Luther King Jr. was standing on the balcony of his hotel room, trying to decide if he needed a coat.

Mark as Played

6: The Accidental Leader

April 11, 2018 • 28 mins

Clayborne Carson, the director of the King Papers Project, says Martin Luther King Jr. was an "accidental" civil rights leader. Carson argues we created another King -- someone he never was -- the moment he died.

Mark as Played

7. The Inconvenient Hero

April 18, 2018 • 24 mins

Vincent Harding was Martin Luther King's longtime friend and advisor. They first met in 1958 when King was laid up in bed, recovering from an assassination attempt. Harding said King's death made some people in the civil rights movement wonder if the country was worth fighting for.

Mark as Played

8. A Movement in the Millions

April 25, 2018 • 33 mins

Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and a community organizer, talks about Martin Luther King's legacy, the fight for racial justice today and why she doesn't look forward to Martin Luther King Day.

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.