50 years later: Black America since MLK

On April 4, 1968, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life was tragically cut short. A tireless civil rights and anti-poverty advocate, Dr. King’s work energized, empowered and influenced African-Americans and other advocates for civil rights domestically and internationally. Fifty years after his assassination, his legacy remains as relevant as ever. As others continue the march forward for civil rights, we examine how Dr. King’s message of forward movement on civil rights and economic empowerment can help us find common ground in a time of uncertainty.

On Tuesday, April 17, Brookings hosted an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, and the national public television re-broadcast of the seminal documentary, “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise.” The event featured remarks from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. followed by a screening of select scenes from the updated PBS special. The new segments offer historic context to guide necessary action on issues of pay disparity, workforce inclusion, and business development. After the screening, a panel of experts discussed the barriers that still remain in the way of Dr. King’s vision of economic progress as a civil rights imperative for all Americans.