History

During the less than 13 years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, from December 1955 until April 4, 1968, African Americans achieved more genuine progress toward racial equality in America than the previous 350 years had produced. Dr. King is widely regarded as America’s pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history.

Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King led a nonviolent movement in the late 1950s and ‘60s to achieve legal equality for African-Americans in the United States. While others were advocating for freedom by “any means necessary,” including violence, Martin Luther King, Jr. used the power of words and acts of nonviolent resistance, such as protests, grassroots organizing, and civil disobedience to achieve seemingly-impossible goals. He went on to lead similar campaigns against poverty and international conflict, always maintaining fidelity to his principles that men and women everywhere, regardless of color or creed, are equal members of the human family.

Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Nobel Peace Prize lecture and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” are among the most revered orations and writings in the English language. His accomplishments are now taught to American children of all races, and his teachings are studied by scholars and students worldwide. He is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor and is the only non-president memorialized on the Great Mall in the nation’s capital. He is memorialized in hundreds of statues, parks, streets, squares, churches and other public facilities around the world as a leader whose teachings are increasingly-relevant to the progress of humankind.

Legacy+ is a foundry of strategists, designers, creators, storytellers and innovators that brings purpose to life for companies, foundations and individuals by building real movements and legacy projects with life-changing impacts for people and communities around the world. They have partnered with globally renowned thought leaders, activists, CEOs, entertainers, athletes, celebrities and more to inspire millions of youths, educators, companies, and communities to give back through service. Through its efforts, Legacy+ shifted volunteerism in youth from least likely to most likely and was the first to develop service-learning programming integrated into classroom curriculum. 

Founded in 1961 on Dr. King’s vision of a world free of racism, poverty and violence, the Drum Major Institute carries Dr. King’s work and vision of radical nonviolence into the 21st century, democratizing it for all people. DMI leads through collaboration by convening leaders and organizations to identify common-sense solutions to our most pressing problems. DMI strives to inspire people to embrace their role in the King legacy, to empower them to build the beloved community and take action to promote peace, justice and equity for all.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy and voice is as important today as it was upon the founding of the Drum Major Foundation 60 years ago. The Drum Major Institute carries his work and vision of radical nonviolence into the 21st century, democratizing it for all people.

Today, helmed by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and their daughter Yolanda Renee King, the organization leads through collaboration by convening leaders and organizations to identify common-sense solutions to our most pressing social problems.

The Drum Major institute strives to connect the past to the present and inspire people to embrace their role in the King legacy now and into the future. We must all do our parts to create the beloved community and take action to promote peace, justice and equity for all.