Civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was born today 89 years ago. In honour of the inspiring life that the iconic preacher led, here are six times that the ‘I Have A Dream’ orator has graced the covers of various magazines.
5. Jet Magazine, May 1963
African – American centric magazine, Jet, was popular for chronicling major civil rights events and as a result, featured MLK on multiple issues of their publication. The May 2nd edition of Jet, however, is one of the more iconic because it shows MLK being carted off to jail like other freedom fighters. This visual resonated with all those supporting the cause and inspired them to fight even harder.
4. The New Yorker, January 1995
The New Yorker opted for an illustration for their posthumous cover of MLK. The edition, which was released a day after his birthday in 1995, was notable for analyzing the impact of MLK’s legacy in New York, and America as a whole.
3. Rolling Stone, 1988
When American magazine, Rolling Stone, wanted to pay tribute to the great MLK, they hired Paul Davis to help them capture a stunning posthumous portrait of the icon. Along with one of MLK’s more popular quotes, Rolling Stone set out to honour MLK in the simplest but artistic way possible.
2. Ebony, 1968
Ebony has featured Dr. King on the cover of its publications a handful of times but the most memorable feature would definitely be that of their 1968 issue. MLK had been assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968 and the following month, Ebony dedicated their publication to the legendary freedom fighter.
1. Time, 1957
Arguably MLK’s most iconic magazine cover, Time’s profile on MLK as a ‘scholarly 28-year-old Negro Baptist minister’ was one of the first times the world saw MLK’s face. Boris Chaliapin, the artist commissioned to capture the then ‘on the rise’ activist, created a detailed piece showcasing the young MLK’s rose to fame.
