It's #MLK50 day — the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Already, we have called attention to strong religion-related coverage of this milestone by two veteran Godbeat journalists: Hamil R. Harris and Adelle Banks.
Harris, we noted, recently wrote an article for the Washington Post headlined "Fifty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, where should the black church go from here?" And for USA Today, he did a story noting that "As racism resurges, many look to the pulpit King left behind."
Banks, meanwhile, produced an extraordinary story focused on a 75-year-old Memphis, Tenn., sanitation worker who "drives five days a week to collect garbage, even as he spends much of the rest of his time as an associate minister of his Baptist congregation."
Along with the above coverage, here are five more insightful links (and please feel free to share more in the comments section) that we came across in scanning today's headlines:
1. "On the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, faith groups rally to combat systemic racism," from the Washington Post.
Religion writers Michelle Boorstein and Julie Zauzmer are among the journalists covering this developing story.
2. "Crowds, activists, MLK's children remember him at the sacred place of his last speech," from the Commercial Appeal of Memphis.
This was the front-page story today in the city where King was slain on April 4, 1968.
3. "The Path to Memphis," from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
This in-depth piece (really in-depth and filled with so much historical insight) piece by race and culture writer Ernie Suggs. It's not entirely about religion, but King's faith figures prominently — and rightly so.
4. "Martin Luther King's classmate, a Baltimore pastor, recalls him as playful, intense — and brilliant," from the Baltimore Sun.
This is a nice local story about a longtime Baltimore pastor — now 98 and living in a retirement home — who attended seminary with King and still has fond, vivid memories of him.
5. "Fifty years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, black pastors are issuing a call to action and using different methods to achieve common goals," from the New York Times.
This piece ran on the Times' front page on today's #MLK50 anniversary. It's interesting, although I'm still trying to digest the nut graf. Please tell me if it's just me:
They [black pastors] are trying to figure out how to strike a balance of engaging in Dr. King’s unfinished work of fighting racism, while remaining true to a historically conservative institution.
What is the "historically conservative institution" to which the story refers? Is the Times speaking in general about the black church? And if so, what is the definition of "conservative" in this context? (A few paragraphs later, the article notes that the Rev. Charles E. Blake — the bishop featured in the lede — opposes same-sex marriage and abortion. )
Anyway, I'd welcome any insight you might have, kind reader. What am I missing?
Finally, if you have other faith-filled links to share on #MLK50, please do so in the comments section or tweet us at @GetReligion.