“Where do we go from here?”–Dovie Thurman on the death of MLK

Monday is a celebration of the life and work of beloved civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His many and great accomplishments in the struggle for equality during the ’50s and ’60s live on in his inspirational words, which continue to guide the practices of nonviolent activism today. His assassination in 1968 was a terrible shock felt around the world and to all who fought for civil and human rights.

In this video from the archive, Studs Terkel talks with Dovie Thurman, community organizer and the “Heart of Uptown,” who speaks candidly about the anger she felt over the assassination of Dr. King and her struggle to remain committed to non-violence in the face of such brutality.

In her own activist work in Chicago, Thurman fought for welfare reform with the organization Jobs or Income Now (J.O.I.N.) and for quality affordable housing as a part of Uptown Voices. She died in April of 1997, just one month after having this conversation with Studs. The documentary was produced by the Chicago Video Project of Communications for Change, Community TV Network, and Community Media Workshop. You can watch it in its entirety at Media Burn.

Celebrate the life of Dr. King this Monday

This Monday Rebuild Foundation will open its doors for an all day event celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As part of the event, Media Burn has produced an exclusive 39 min compilation of archival video about Dr. King and his relationship with Chicago, which will loop in a screening room alongside footage from the Chicago Film Archives. Stop by anytime.