4 Podcasts to Hep You Learn More About Martin Luther King Jr.
To say Martin Luther King Jr.’s work has impacted my own anti-racism work is an understatement.
His legacy is foundational to so much of my experience as a Black person in America and on the hopes and dreams I have for society.
Whether it’s January and Martin Luther King Jr. Day is coming up or it’s another time of the year, it’s always a good time to learn more about what MLK actually taught and advocated for.
Here is a list of 4 podcast episodes I have created through the years to help you learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. and how you can honor his legacy.
“3 Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day That Honor His Legacy”
If creating a society that is just and inclusive is our goal, we need to do more than post a quote and a photo on social media on Martin Luther King Day.
In this episode, we give you three concrete things you can do on Martin Luther King Day with your family that will truly honor his legacy.
- Give your children context about who we are celebrating and why.
- Attend an event.
- Support Black-owned businesses.
“The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
If you have been listening to the First Name Basis podcast for a while or following us on Instagram, you know that episodes in our Untold Stories series are some of my absolute favorites.
In this one, you’ll learn about and understand the untold story of Dr. King, including:
- His background and upbringing.
- His time in college/graduate school.
- How he came to be the spokesperson for the Montgomery Bus Boycott and then go on to be a prominent leader in the Civil Rights movement.
- His influence on the election of President John F. Kennedy.
- How he was viewed as a threat to the nation and investigated by the FBI.
- His philosophy of nonviolent resistance that carried him through and inspires us all.
“The One Thing I Wish You Knew About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
Unfortunately, Dr. King’s dream has not yet come true.
In this episode I explain the second phase of his dream, one that we are still working on today.
“Stop Using MLK to Justify Racism”
I feel like this episode really shows our journey as a community and my journey as an anti-racist (both personally and as an educator).
With each episode I’ve made about MLK, the content has gotten more and more radical — just like the journey that Dr. Cornel West takes us on in the incredible book “The Radical King.”
Season 3, Episode 10: “The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” was about nonviolence and loving accountability.
Season 3, Episode 11: “The One Thing I Wish You Knew About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” was about the fact that racism and Dr. King’s assassination have more to do with money and power than skin color.
And in this episode — “Stop Using MLK to Justify Racism” — we dispel 3 myths that people have perpetuated about Dr. King to justify their racism.
Those 3 myths are:
• Dr. King would have been against riots.
• Dr. King would have been anti-Critical Race Theory.
• Dr. King’s dream has already been achieved.
I hope by the end of this episode you feel like you have a better understanding of what this incredible man really felt about each of these issues, and I hope you feel inspired to learn more about his teachings yourself.
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