Resources for Teachers and Students on Coretta Scott King
Prepare: In 1968, Coretta Scott King established
the King
Center as a memorial to the legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King. It is located in Atlanta's Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. National Historical Site.
Read:
Coretta Scott King wrote an
original essay for the Architects of Peace project.
In it, she explores a dream she refers to as a "Beloved
Community," the creation of which was a goal her husband
articulated as being the ultimate quest of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott.
Explore: Stanford University has assembled an extensive
archive of the papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their
website contains the transcript of a sermon Dr. King preached
in1956 called "When
Peace Becomes Obnoxious." In this speech, Dr.
King redefines peace when he states, "Peace is not
merely the absence of some negative force--war, tension,
confusion, but it is the presence of some positive force--justice,
goodwill, the power of the kingdom of God."
Write: As Coretta Scott King points out in her essay,
Gandhi's concept of nonviolence as a means toward peace
became a theoretical cornerstone behind her husband's civil
rights efforts. Compose a five-to-seven page research paper
on the evolution of Dr. King's rhetoric as he became more
and more convinced of the efficacy of nonviolent political
action. What did he understand the potential effects of
nonviolence to be? Was his assessment of these effects correct?
Extend: Martin Luther King, Jr. was widely regarded
for his oratorical skills. Those wishing to listen to audio
excerpts from some of his speeches and sermons can
do so online.
Additional Resource: Each year the American Library
Association bestows The Coretta Scott King award on an author
of African descent whose books promote an appreciation of
the American Dream for peace and equality. Please visit
a listing of recent
recipients of this award.
Biography of Coretta
Scott King