Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Native American Rights

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we remember a man who not only fought for the civil rights of African Americans but also advocated for social equality of Native Americans.

Dr. King spent his life in pursuit of his goal that one day we may be judged not on the color of our skin but on the content of our character – and he championed equality for all people of color. Dr. King’s actions aided Native Americans more than most of us know. He specifically advocated for the desegregation of Native Americans and inspired much of the modern-day advocacy for Native rights, including water rights and tribal sovereignty. Many advocacy groups for tribes, such as the Native American Rights Fund, arose shortly after the era of Dr. King in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement.

King’s passion and dedication ultimately led to his untimely death, but his message continues to resonate for those who seek and support fair and just opportunity for all, despite their ethnicity or background. In his famous letter written from a Birmingham jail cell in 1963, Dr. King reflected on the definition of injustice and morality and desire for equal rights for all the oppressed:

“Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. Even before there were large numbers of Negroes on our shores, the scar of racial hatred had already disfigured colonial society. … We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its Indigenous population. Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade.”

Dr. King’s words inspired a deeper focus on how the history of oppression has affected all “people of color” in America and his legacy lives on in those who continue to seek equality.

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we encourage you to reflect on Dr. King’s work and what it means for us today. Celebrate his legacy through an act of kindness, a volunteer effort, or learning more about the rich history of his accomplishments and the movement that sparked so many of today’s American ideals.