Image Above: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gives his iconic “I have a dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963

On November 19th 1961, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the Tampa NAACP’s First Fall Freedom Rally at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory on Howard Avenue. Reverend King spoke for 45 minutes to a packed house and the estimated 4,5oo listeners were undeterred even after the speech was delayed due to a bomb threat. While Dr. King’s Tampa speech may be of lesser historical importance on a national scale, he made a lasting impact on the city’s civil rights leadership who continued to exercise civil disobedience at lunch counter sit-ins and public pool/beach wade-ins. This Monday, organizations from all around Tampa Bay will celebrate Dr. King’s enduring legacy.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade will begin at 15th Street and MLK Boulevard, travel east to 22nd Street, and end at Osborne Avenue. The parade starts at 12 pm. For more information visit www.mlkjrparade.com.
• National Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Parade celebrates its 30th anniversary this year in St. Petersburg. It is the oldest and largest event of its kind. The parade starts at 9:15 am and the route starts at Dr. MLK St. & 3rd Ave. S., proceed to Central Ave, turn east to Bayshore Dr., turn north to 5th Ave. N., and then disband at Vinoy Park. Visit mlknationalparade.org for more information.
•  Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival will host 10 days of art, music, culture, and history from January 15th the 25th to celebrate the festival’s 15th anniversary and honor Dr. King’s legacy. Visit TampaBlackHeritage.org for more information and events schedule.
• Martin Luther King Community Festival will be held from 10 am – 5 pm at  Belmont Heights Park at 2101 East Martin Luther King Boulevard.

To learn more about MLK’s visit to Tampa Bay, read Rodney Kite-Powell’s 2011 article King’s 1961 visit to Tampa ‘opened eyes’ or listen to WUSF’s King’s Speech: Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1961 Stop In Tampa.

1. Dr. King Spoke at Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory on November 19th 1961Photocredit: www.tampapix.com
2. Tampa Times article recounts King’s visit. Photo credit: WUSFNews c/o Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative.
3. 15th anniversary of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival January 15-25.Photo credit: Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival.