This Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so we thought we'd take a trip through history and retrace his steps through Philadelphia. King's journey to Philly began just outside of the city in Chester, where he attended the now closed Crozer Theological Seminary. Throughout the sixties, he often returned to Philadelphia to give speeches at local universities and churches, as well as visit his close mentor Reverend J. Pius Barbour at Calvary Baptist Church in Chester. To celebrate MLK Day, we put together this map of all the places that he left his mark. We begin at number one, the start of MLK's journey in Philly. Know of another significant spot that's not on the map? Leave a comment and we'll add it to the list!
MLK, Jr. studied here beginning in 1948, where he was one of 11 black students. Ironically enough, transcripts show that he received C's in public speaking class while here. Still, in 1951 he graduated first in his class.
In 1950, King, Jr. and his friends were denied service at a restaurant the town of Maple Shade, near Camden. This moment was influential in beginning MLK’s civil rights fight, sparking the first sit-in in New Jersey. During his visits he often stayed at a rowhouse in Camden (pictured here).
While attending seminary, MLK grew close to Reverend J. Pius Barbour, the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. He often had meals at the reverend's house and served as a student pastor at his church. When MLK later received the Nobel Prize, he immediately returned to visit Barbour. A mirror in which he looked into and said, "Who am I?" still hangs in the church.
MLK, Jr. was here in 1950 to hear Howard University President Mordecai Johnson speak about Mahatma Gandhi. He found the speech "profound and electrifying." In 1965, the Fellowship House planned a controversial visit for MLK, where he addressed a breakfast meeting. The original site no longer exists but continues as a farm in Pottstown.
On June 6, 1961, MLK, Jr. delivered a commencement speech at Lincoln University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law. In his speech, MLK addressed the American dream, saying, "In a real sense, America is essentially a dream, a dream as yet unfulfilled.
King came here in 1964 to dedicate the new Bright Hope Baptist Church. Here he called out churches for acting as "taillights rather than headlights of the civil rights movement."
During his 1965 Philly visit at the peak of the Selma movement, MLK gave a speech at Villanova's Field House on January 20. The field house was at capacity.
During MLK, Jr.'s controversial visit to Philadelphia in 1965, he attended a rally at Girard College. At the time there were protests regarding the college's refusal to admit black students.
MLK, Jr. gave a historic speech at this intersection in West Philly in 1965, drawing a crowd of some 10,000 Philadelphians to the corner. King spoke of the need for "freedom now" in Philadelphia. The memorable speech is now marked by this mural by Cliff Eubanks, called "MLK at Lancaster."
In August 3, 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech at this corner, near the former site of the community center at Martin Luther King Plaza. Formerly known as Hawthorne Square, it once had four high-rises. Today, it's home to a mixed-income, Philadelphia Housing Authority development and features a historical plaque marking the speech.
MLK, Jr. studied here beginning in 1948, where he was one of 11 black students. Ironically enough, transcripts show that he received C's in public speaking class while here. Still, in 1951 he graduated first in his class.
In 1950, King, Jr. and his friends were denied service at a restaurant the town of Maple Shade, near Camden. This moment was influential in beginning MLK’s civil rights fight, sparking the first sit-in in New Jersey. During his visits he often stayed at a rowhouse in Camden (pictured here).
While attending seminary, MLK grew close to Reverend J. Pius Barbour, the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. He often had meals at the reverend's house and served as a student pastor at his church. When MLK later received the Nobel Prize, he immediately returned to visit Barbour. A mirror in which he looked into and said, "Who am I?" still hangs in the church.
MLK, Jr. was here in 1950 to hear Howard University President Mordecai Johnson speak about Mahatma Gandhi. He found the speech "profound and electrifying." In 1965, the Fellowship House planned a controversial visit for MLK, where he addressed a breakfast meeting. The original site no longer exists but continues as a farm in Pottstown.
On June 6, 1961, MLK, Jr. delivered a commencement speech at Lincoln University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law. In his speech, MLK addressed the American dream, saying, "In a real sense, America is essentially a dream, a dream as yet unfulfilled.
King came here in 1964 to dedicate the new Bright Hope Baptist Church. Here he called out churches for acting as "taillights rather than headlights of the civil rights movement."
During his 1965 Philly visit at the peak of the Selma movement, MLK gave a speech at Villanova's Field House on January 20. The field house was at capacity.
During MLK, Jr.'s controversial visit to Philadelphia in 1965, he attended a rally at Girard College. At the time there were protests regarding the college's refusal to admit black students.
MLK, Jr. gave a historic speech at this intersection in West Philly in 1965, drawing a crowd of some 10,000 Philadelphians to the corner. King spoke of the need for "freedom now" in Philadelphia. The memorable speech is now marked by this mural by Cliff Eubanks, called "MLK at Lancaster."
In August 3, 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech at this corner, near the former site of the community center at Martin Luther King Plaza. Formerly known as Hawthorne Square, it once had four high-rises. Today, it's home to a mixed-income, Philadelphia Housing Authority development and features a historical plaque marking the speech.
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