MLK Archives - Rolling Out

Many A-list celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and music understand the monumental importance of the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Hollywood heavyweight Will Smith took his son, Jaden, and his mother to MLK’s birthday celebration in Atlanta over the weekend. King would have been 91 years old today.…

Revered Georgia congressman John Lewis stared down White supremacy and Southern segregationists during the Civil Rights era. There is no doubt, his friends say, that the legendary legislator will not flinch as he prepares to go to war with the type of cancer that has a low survival rate. Lewis, D-Georgia, told his supporters that…

The majority of voters in Kansas City, Missouri, voted to remove Martin Luther King Jr.’s name from a historic boulevard in that Midwestern city. By an almost 70-percent majority, the Kansas City electorate decided they wanted to retain Paseo Boulevard, aka The Paseo, as the street’s name. This comes 10 months after the city council…

The Rev. Dr. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock is the senior pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Warnock is married to Oulèye Ndoye Warnock and the couple has two children. When did you know that God was calling you to be a messenger of the gospel? Honestly,…

Former President Barack Obama took time out of his post-presidential life to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years after his assassination. Joined by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, the pair visited with young men from Ron Brown College Preparatory High School in Washington, DC, for a…

The DC Black History Film Festival celebrated Black history in a grand and informative manner on Saturday, Feb. 17 in the nation’s capital. Starting in the morning, guests viewed films I Am Not Your Negro and Donald L. Hollowell: Foot Soldier for Equal Justice, discussing Black history through the perspective of James Balwin and the…

Black Panther has broke records and exceeded expectations. The Black community supported the film due mostly because Hollywood has failed to give prominent roles to Black actors on powerful platforms. The successes of Black Panther should change the lack of Black representation in big budget films. But beyond the box office success, Black Panther proved…

The lengths to which some members of the King family will go to misuse, misappropriate and monetize his legendary legacy is almost criminal. Here is another grotesque example. MLK’s niece, Alveda King, has a soft spot in her heart for the Donald Trump administration, and Vice President Mike Pence in particular, and she has even…

In the city of Atlanta, the annual celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a sacred and cherished event at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Each year hundreds pack the sanctuary to hear comments, speeches and tribute to Dr. King by politicians and celebrities. Last week’s commemoration has now been marred by a…

This is when an Instagram post goes wrong. Very wrong. Officials at the University of Alabama are investigating a video posted on Instagram by a student in which she repeatedly uses the N-word and other profanities, according to AL.com. The student at the core of the controsversy, Harley Barber, said in the videos posted Monday,…

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy was honored by people across the city of Atlanta. Atlantans commemorated him on Jan. 15 with parades, by visiting monuments, and performing community service.

Donald Trump continues to reveal why he’s one of the most despicable humans to walk the earth. Instead of giving back to the community during the MLK Day holiday, Trump decided to go golfing. The “day of service” has been observed by every president since 1994 and used as a time to give back to…

Several White racist city workers in Green County, Oklahoma shared their hateful views against Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black community. The incident was recorded by city employee Mike Whittmer. Whittier began recording his co-workers because he believed he was going to be fired. But during the morning of Jan. 8, he recorded racist…

On Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, people across the country will celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by offering thanks in the form of community service, gathering with loved ones and for some, recounting the day they too marched for their freedom alongside the Civil Rights activist. While many people are too young to…

On the weekend where the nation is set to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., president-elect Donald Trump found a way to disrespect a Civil Rights icon. Trump became upset after Congressman John Lewis shared his thoughts during an interview with NBC, Lewis said, “Donald Trump has proven that his administration will…

A stalwart soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, the Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles has died at his Memphis, Tennessee, home, he was 82. Kyles‘s was a leading member of Dr. Martin L. King Jr’s inner circle was standing with Dr. King on balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when the fatal shot took King’s…

Best-selling author and international speaker Eddie Connor Jr has published his sixth book titled My Brother’s Keeper. The book was designed to rebuild and restore the lives of young boys and men in the Black community. Growing up without a father caused Conner to struggle with low self-esteem, depression and identity issues. It is his hope…

MLK Day celebrations were in abundance on the 30th anniversary of Dr. King’s national holiday, and Detroit had no shortages of celebrations, rallies and marches. Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of Rainbow/PUSH Global Automotive Project hosted a celebration in honor of Dr. King titled “Beyond the Dream,” which was held on Jan. 17-18, 2016.…

Jeff Johnson — a journalist, activist and political commentator, best known for his many appearances on B.E.T. — delivered a powerful message in celebration of iconic leader Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 13. He gave his speech “Civil Rights to Human Rights: The Courage to Lead” at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Addressing…

Activist and author Kevin Powell has written a gripping memoir that traces his life from childhood to present-day. The Education of Kevin Powell offers a look into the life of a young Black man growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey and Powell spoke to ROLLING OUT about the book