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We the People

The Constitutional and Moral Philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 January 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, January 16, 2023, we pay tribute to Dr. King by discussing his historical legacy and constitutional and moral philosophy through his key writings, speeches, and intellectual and moral inspirations and influences. Guests Christopher Brooks, professor of history at East Stroudsburg University, and Hasan Kwame Jeffries, associate professor of history at Ohio State University, discuss some of Dr. King’s most seminal writings and speeches and talk about the key texts, ideas, and writers that influenced Dr. King’s life and work, from Christianity and the Bible, to civil rights figures like Howard Thurmond. Host Jeffrey Rosen moderates.  Read and listen to the primary texts discussed:  Dr. Martin Luther King, “Address Before the New York State Civil War Centennial Commission,” Sept. 12, 1962 (Video | Transcript | Draft) Dr. Martin Luther King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, “I Have a Dream” speech, August 28, 1963  Dr. Martin Luther King, “Beyond Vietnam – A Time to Break Silence,” April 4, 1967  Dr. Martin Luther King, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community (1967)  Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. Continue today’s conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly. You can find transcripts for each episode on the podcast pages in our Media Library.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome

0:09.2

to We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate. The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit,

0:15.8

chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution

0:20.1

among the American people.

0:21.9

Monday, January 16th was Martin Luther King Day,

0:25.0

and in this episode we will pay tribute to Dr. King

0:28.0

by discussing his constitutional legacy.

0:31.0

Joining us are the scholars Christopher Brooks and Hassan Kwame Jeffries, who are going to walk us through

0:36.6

some of Dr King's most important writings and speeches and talk about his intellectual

0:41.8

influences.

0:42.9

Professors Brooks and Jeffries are selecting the sources

0:45.7

for the Civil Rights section of the Founders Library,

0:48.9

and I'm so honored to welcome them to We The People today.

0:52.1

Christopher Brooks is professor of history at East Strasbourg University.

0:56.0

His current research focuses on John S Rock,

1:00.0

the first African American attorney admitted to argue before the US Supreme Court.

1:04.8

Professor Brooks, welcome back to We The People.

1:07.6

Thank you.

1:08.6

Thank you.

1:09.6

I'm happy to be here.

1:10.3

And Hassan Kwame Jeffries is Associate Professor of History at Ohio State University.

1:14.8

He's the author of Bloody Lounds, Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama's Black Belt,

...

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