“Soul Force” Martin Luther King, Jr. Vintage Press Release Distributed Week Before King’s Assassination, and Referring to the Poor People’s Campaign Projected for April 1968 But Delayed After MLK's Killing

A press release reprinted from “Soul Force,” the official journal of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, distributed to newspaper editors during the week ending March 31, 1968, four days before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Expected wear including a gently wrinkled upper left corner with old staple holes, and a darkened and chipped bottom edge. Else near fine. 8.5” x 11.” Provenance: Ex-Dr. Jesse L. Douglas (born 1930), Dr. King’s close friend and fellow minister and Civil Rights activist. Douglas was instrumental in planning the Selma Montgomery March in March 1965. Dr. Douglas, who is an African American with albinism, was often misidentified by news agencies in photographs as a sympathetic “unidentified white man” appearing alongside black protestors.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was a civil rights organization co-founded by Dr. King in 1957; he would serve as the group’s first president between then and his assassination.

The press release entitled “Dr. King and SCLC – Powerful Action for Change” was a factsheet about the SCLC. Written partly in bullet points and with capital-lettered subheadings, it was meant to be an easily digestible overview of the organization’s major principles and objectives. The press release lists the upcoming Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 as a main item on its spring agenda. “THE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN FOR JOBS OR INCOME, which will begin in Washington, in April. This campaign will involve thousands of poor people in massive protests, expanding in numbers and militance if necessary to make the nation respond to the evils of poverty and racism in America…” The Poor People’s Campaign was delayed in the wake of Dr. King’s assassination but took place in the nation’s capital later in the spring, between May 12-June 24, 1968.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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