Part Three: King's Reception in India
Instructions
In his Article My Trip to the Land of Gandhi, published after the trip in July 1959, Martin Luther King, Jr. recalled, "At the outset, let me say, that we had a grand reception in India. The people showered upon us the most generous hospitality imaginable." King’s success in the Montgomery bus boycott was well known in India and greatly contributed to King’s popularity during his trip.
Furthermore, King observed that, “[...] the strongest bond of fraternity was the common cause of minority and colonial peoples in America, Africa, and Asia struggling to throw off racialism and imperialism." The common experience of discrimination and oppression, shared by African Americans and Indians, informed discussions about racism and colonialism during King's travels.
In this lesson students examine King's reception in India in order to highlight the importance and impact of King's work on a global scale.
Learning objectives:
· to examine how King was perceived in India
· to recognize the meaning and importance of King's work outside the US
· to acknowledge the lasting impact of the India Trip and the Gandhian influence on King himself as well as those who continue Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy.
1. Opening Activity
Recall with students how busy the trip was for Martin Luther King, Jr. and his travel party. If necessary, take a look again at the India Trip itinerary, pointing out the many meetings and engagements that King had during his trip. Look at the pictures of King in India. How was King received in India? Ask students to read the newspaper article, Martin Luther King, Negro Leader, Pays Tribute to Gandhi published in American Reporter on February 13, 1959. In a discussion, ask students to summarize the article. What are the key points mentioned in the article?
2. Classroom Activity
After arriving in New Delhi on February 10, 1959, Martin Luther King, Jr., conducted a press conference. Use the Account by Lawrence Dunbar Reddick of Press Conference in New Delhi on 10 February 1959 (or Handout F) to explore the themes that were addressed during that conference. Direct students to the following questions: What were the topics that the Indian news reporters focused on? Why was King’s work and activism in the US of interest to the Indian reporters? Divide the class into groups of two (or three) students. Each group receives one question and answer from the press conference. Students read question/answer then explore and discuss the meaning and context of the question/answer. Once students have finished the task, reenact the conference; students read out loud the previously received question/answer and present their interpretation to the class.
3. Classroom Activity
In February 2009, exactly half a century after Martin Luther King, Jr. visited India, Kings’ son, Martin Luther King III paid an official state visit to India to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trip to the Land of Gandhi. Watch the PBS video (ca. 8 min) documenting the 2009 visit to India/OR read the newspaper article Son Retraces King's '59 India Pilgrimage (Handout G). Discuss with students the lasting impact of King’s visit. Discussion questions and review: Why was it important for King to visit India? How did the trip influence his activism? What were the similarities between Gandhi and King? How did King’s trip influence other activists that worked with him in the past and continue today?
4. Classroom Activity
Remind students that each February marks an anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s trip to India. Ask students to develop an official invitation to a commemorative ceremony. Encourage students to think about and include the following details in the invitation: What exactly are we commemorating? What was the purpose of King’s trip? Why was it important to King to go and spend an extended period of time in India? How did the trip impact King? Why is it important to remember King’s trip to India? Does King’s trip to India have any meaning or relevance to us today?
Materials
Handout F: PDF file of the Press Conference in New Delhi
Handout G: PDF file of the newspaper article: Son Retraces King's '59 India Pilgrimage
Resources
India Trip itinerary
Martin Luther King, Negro Leader, Pays Tribute to Gandhi
Account by Lawrence Dunbar Reddick of Press Conference in New Delhi on 10 February 1959
PBS video
Son Retraces King's '59 India Pilgrimage
Questions? Suggestions? Ideas?
Email us your comments and let us know about your experience with the LC lesson plans!
Contact us at: King Institute Liberation Curriculum