Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, GA. The civil rights leader’s name was actually changed from Michael King Jr. after his father traveled to Germany and was inspired by a Protestant named Martin Luther. This portrait was taken by Karash when King returned to Atlanta after the struggle for desegregation (ending the separation of two races) in Albany, Georgia. Unlike the usual images of MLK where he is in action at the events of the civil rights movement, Karash shows us a different kind of image; a portrait that utilizes pose and lighting rather than environment to identify King as a leader. On this Albany movement day, King was arrested in a mass arrest and was sentenced to forty-five days in jail or a $178 bail. The Albany Movement mobilized thousands of citizens to take action and defend their rights. it also attracted nationwide attention, but failed to accomplish its goals because of a a strongly formed opposition to the movement. However, King decided to go for more focused activism aiming to win specific victories.

 

• Artist: Yousuf Karsh
• Title: Martin Luther King, Jr., 15 Jan 1929 - 4 Apr 1968
• Date: 1962
• Type: Photograph
• Medium: Gelatin silver print
• Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery
• Permanent link: http://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.2012.77.63