Dr. King: A Reader, Writer, and Lifelong Learner
Why This Guide?
Most students know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a great civil rights leader. But did you know he was also an avid reader, a talented writer, a music lover, and a lifelong learner? This guide shares insights from the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection—one of the most important archives of Dr. King’s personal belongings, including over 1,100 books from his library!
Perfect for promoting reading and showing students that great leaders are also great learners.
A Voracious Reader
Dr. King loved to read—and he read widely across many subjects. The Morehouse College collection includes approximately 1,100 books from his personal library. Many of these books contain his handwritten notes in the margins, showing how deeply he engaged with what he read.
What This Teaches Students:
Great leaders are great readers! Dr. King didn’t just read about one subject—he was curious about everything. Reading helped him understand the world, think deeply about justice, and find ways to help people.
What Did Dr. King Read?
Dr. King’s reading list was incredibly diverse. Here’s what filled his library:
📖 Classic Literature
- “The Diary of Anne Frank” by Anne Frank
- “Candide” by Voltaire
- “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison
- “Kinfolk” by Pearl S. Buck
- Works by Leo Tolstoy (Russian author of “War and Peace”)
📖 Theology and Philosophy
- “Deep River: Reflections on the Religious Insight of Certain of the Negro Spirituals” by Howard Thurman
- “Moral Man and Immoral Society” by Reinhold Niebuhr
- “Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi”
📖 Poetry and African American Literature
- “Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar”
- “Frederick Douglass: My Bondage and My Freedom”
- “Here and Beyond the Sunset” by Nannie Helen Burroughs
📖 Social Justice and Current Issues
- “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson (about environmental protection)
- “Prison Notes” by Barbara Deming
- “Killers of the Dream” by Lillian Smith (about racism in the South)
Why Did Dr. King Read So Much?
- To Learn: Every book taught him something new about people, history, or ideas
- To Understand: Reading helped him see different perspectives and understand complex problems
- To Be Inspired: Books showed him how others had fought for justice
- To Grow: He believed learning never stopped—even great leaders must keep learning
From Reader to Writer
Dr. King didn’t just read—he also wrote prolifically. After the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-1956 made him famous, publishers, newspapers, and magazines sought his ideas and opinions.
What Dr. King Wrote
Books:
- “Stride Toward Freedom” (1958) – About the Montgomery Bus Boycott
- “Strength to Love” (1963) – Collection of his sermons
- “Why We Can’t Wait” (1964) – About the Birmingham campaign and need for civil rights
- “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” (1967) – About the future of the civil rights movement
Famous Letters and Speeches:
- “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963) – Written while imprisoned for protesting
- “I Have a Dream” speech (1963) – Delivered at the March on Washington
- “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech (1968) – His final speech
- Countless other speeches, sermons, and articles
The “Advice for Living” Column
Many people don’t know that Dr. King wrote a regular column in Ebony magazine called “Advice for Living.” Readers sent in questions, and Dr. King answered them!
Topics He Addressed:
- Personal relationships and family issues
- Race relations and discrimination
- Moral and ethical questions
- Current events like capital punishment and war
- Advice for young people
This shows: Dr. King cared about everyday people’s problems, not just big political issues. He wanted to help people live better lives.
Why Was Dr. King Such a Good Writer?
Because he was a great reader! All that reading helped him:
- Learn new words and use powerful language
- Understand how to structure arguments and persuade people
- Connect ideas from different books and thinkers
- Express complex ideas clearly and beautifully
Music Shaped His Life
Music was important to Dr. King from childhood. His mother, Alberta Williams King, was the church organist at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. She introduced young Martin (called “M.L.” as a child) to music.
Dr. King’s Musical Journey
As a Child and Student:
- Sang solos in church
- Sang with the church choir
- At Morehouse College (1944-1948), sang in the renowned Morehouse College Glee Club
- Performed with the Atlanta University-Morehouse-Spelman Chorus
Coretta Scott King’s Influence
When Dr. King married Coretta Scott in 1953, his musical world expanded even more. Coretta was studying to become a concert soprano at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She introduced him to:
- Classical music
- Opera and art songs
- A deeper appreciation for musical beauty
His Favorite Music
🎵 Gospel Songs and Hymns:
- “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” (He requested this be sung at his funeral)
- “How I Got Over”
- “Thank You, Lord”
- “Never Grow Old”
🎵 Other Genres:
- Jazz and Blues – The music of Black America
- Classical music – Symphonies and operas
- Freedom Songs – Music used in protests and marches
Music and the Movement
Dr. King believed that music was a powerful element in activism and nonviolent protest. Songs like “We Shall Overcome” gave protesters courage and unity.
Friends in Music:
- Mahalia Jackson – Gospel singer who performed at the March on Washington
- Aretha Franklin and her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin
- Many other musicians who supported the civil rights movement
Reading About Gandhi
Dr. King first learned about Mahatma Gandhi by reading books about his nonviolent resistance movement in India. Gandhi had led India to independence from British rule without using violence.
The 1959 Trip to India
In 1959, Dr. King and his wife Coretta traveled to India for a month. This trip deepened his commitment to nonviolence. He met people who had worked with Gandhi and saw firsthand how nonviolent resistance could work.
What Dr. King Learned in India:
- Nonviolence isn’t weakness—it requires great courage and discipline
- Ordinary people working together can defeat injustice
- Love and truth are more powerful than hate and violence
- Protest must be organized, strategic, and persistent
A Note He Always Carried
After his trip to India, Dr. King always carried a note in his pocket on a scrap of paper. It read: “Gandhi Speaks for Us. …”
This shows how deeply Gandhi’s teachings influenced him. Dr. King adapted Gandhi’s methods of nonviolent resistance to the American civil rights movement.
A Historic Achievement
In 1964, at just 35 years old, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize. This made him:
- The youngest person to ever win the prize at that time
- The third African American to win it
- The 12th American to receive this honor
Why Did He Win?
The Nobel Committee recognized Dr. King for his “steadfast belief that nonviolence was an integral part of obtaining full citizenship rights for Black people in America.”
In other words: Dr. King proved that you could fight injustice without using violence. His peaceful methods inspired people around the world.
What Did He Do with the Prize Money?
On December 10, 1964, when Dr. King accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, he announced that he was donating all of the prize money to the civil rights movement.
The prize money was about $54,000 (worth about $530,000 today). Instead of keeping it, he gave it away to help continue the fight for justice.
Grades K-1: Dr. King Loved Books!
📚 Activity: “My Favorite Book”
Have students draw pictures of their favorite books and share why they like them. Explain that Dr. King also had favorite books!
🎵 Activity: “Freedom Songs”
Teach simple songs like “This Little Light of Mine.” Explain that Dr. King believed music helped people feel brave and strong.
✍🏾 Activity: “I Read Because…”
Complete the sentence: “Dr. King read books because they helped him ___________.” (learn, help people, be brave, etc.)
Grades 2-3: Becoming Readers and Thinkers
📚 Activity: “Create Your Own Reading Library”
Students list 5-10 books they want to read this year. Discuss: How can reading help us understand other people and solve problems?
✍🏾 Activity: “Write an Advice Column”
Inspired by Dr. King’s “Advice for Living” column, students write advice letters answering questions like “How can I be a good friend?” or “What should I do when someone is being treated unfairly?”
🎵 Activity: “Music and Feelings”
Listen to different types of music (gospel, classical, jazz). Discuss how music makes us feel and why Dr. King thought music was powerful.
📖 Activity: “Book Notes”
Practice taking notes while reading, just like Dr. King wrote in the margins of his books. What do you want to remember?
Grades 4-5: Deep Reading and Critical Thinking
📚 Activity: “Create a Reading Challenge”
Challenge students to read across different genres like Dr. King did: historical fiction, poetry, biographies, science, and social issues. Track diverse reading throughout the year.
✍🏾 Activity: “Research and Write”
Students research a social issue they care about and write a persuasive essay or letter to a leader, inspired by Dr. King’s writing.
📖 Activity: “Reading Gandhi”
Read age-appropriate excerpts about Gandhi’s life and nonviolent resistance. Compare Gandhi’s methods to Dr. King’s civil rights tactics.
🎵 Activity: “Music of the Movement”
Study freedom songs and gospel music from the civil rights era. Analyze lyrics for meaning. Create original songs or poems about justice.
📚 Activity: “MLK’s Reading List”
Choose one book from Dr. King’s library (age-appropriate version) and read it as a class. Discuss: Why do you think this book was important to Dr. King?
🏆 Activity: “Nobel Prize Research”
Research other Nobel Peace Prize winners. What did they do? What can we learn from them? Create presentations about peace activists.
Grades K-1:
- “Why do you think Dr. King liked to read so many books?”
- “What is your favorite book? Why?”
- “How does music make you feel?”
- “What can we learn from reading books?”
Grades 2-3:
- “Dr. King read books about many different topics. Why is it good to read about various subjects?”
- “How did reading help Dr. King become a better writer and speaker?”
- “What can we learn from people who lived a long time ago, like Gandhi?”
- “Why do you think Dr. King gave away his Nobel Prize money instead of keeping it?”
- “How can music bring people together?”
Grades 4-5:
- “Dr. King had over 1,100 books in his personal library. Do you think there’s a connection between reading and being a good leader? Why or why not?”
- “How did reading about Gandhi change the way Dr. King thought about fighting injustice?”
- “Dr. King wrote an advice column for everyday people. Why is it important for leaders to care about ordinary problems, not just big political issues?”
- “What books might you read to better understand social issues today?”
- “Dr. King was the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner at 35. What does this teach us about age and accomplishment?”
- “How can we use writing to make a difference in our communities?”
- Great Leaders Are Great Readers: Dr. King’s voracious reading across many subjects made him a better thinker, speaker, and leader.
- Reading + Writing = Power: Dr. King’s extensive reading directly contributed to his powerful writing and speaking abilities.
- Lifelong Learning Matters: Even as a famous leader, Dr. King never stopped reading, learning, and growing.
- Diverse Reading Builds Understanding: Dr. King read literature, poetry, philosophy, theology, and current events—showing that learning about many topics helps us understand complex problems.
- Learning Across Cultures: Dr. King’s study of Gandhi shows the importance of learning from other cultures and historical figures.
- The Arts Matter: Music wasn’t just entertainment for Dr. King—it was a source of strength, community, and activism.
- Generosity and Service: Donating his Nobel Prize money showed that Dr. King valued the cause more than personal gain.
The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection
Morehouse College, Dr. King’s alma mater, houses one of the most important archives of his personal papers, sermons, speeches, and belongings.
What’s in the Collection:
- Over 1,100 books from Dr. King’s personal library
- Many books with his handwritten notes
- Original manuscripts of speeches and sermons
- Letters and correspondence
- Personal items and memorabilia
- Documents chronicling major civil rights events
About Vicki Crawford
Dr. Vicki Crawford is a Professor of Africana Studies and civil rights historian who has served as Director of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection for over 12 years.
Her Mission:
Dr. Crawford especially enjoys introducing younger generations to Dr. King and helping them understand:
- The powerful lessons of the struggle for social justice
- How everyday people organized and worked for social change
- The depth and complexity of Dr. King’s thought
- The importance of studying primary sources
Why This Matters: Dr. Crawford’s work preserving and sharing Dr. King’s personal library helps students see him as a real person who loved learning—not just a historical figure. It reminds us that reading and education are powerful tools for change.
