- On View
- Making a Way Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Making a Way Out of No Way
- Written by
- Rev. Abernathy, Ralph David, American, 1926 - 1990
- Published by
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference, American, founded 1957
- Edited by
- Billingslea, Alma Jean, American, born 1946
- Photograph by
- Tomlin, Elaine, American, died 1995
- Subject of
- Rev. King, Martin Luther Sr, American, 1899 - 1984
- Rev. Dr. Walker, Wyatt Tee, American, 1929 - 2018
- Date
- January 1971
- Medium
- ink on newsprint
- Dimensions
- H x W (Closed): 15 9/16 × 11 3/8 in. (39.5 × 28.9 cm)
- H x W (Open): 15 9/16 × 22 3/4 in. (39.5 × 57.8 cm)
- H x W (Stored): 8 1/8 × 11 1/2 in. (20.6 × 29.2 cm)
- Description
- Soul Force newsletter, volume 3, number 3. The newsletter is printed on newsprint paper with black type. The newsletter is folded together but not stapled. The front cover features a black-and-white photomontage of three photographs of Martin Luther King, Jr and a fourth photograph of his funeral procession. The photograph in the top left corner features King surrounded by a crowd of teenagers. King’s body is turned towards the viewer, but his head is turned, and he is smiling at a girl on the left side of the photograph with his hand resting on her arm. The photograph on the top right is a close-up of King. He is wearing a dark suit, white dress shirt, and a dark tone tie. He appears to be speaking. The photograph on the bottom left depicts King hugging a child. He is wearing a dark coat and is holding his hat in his proper left had but has both arms wrapped around the child. Two women, one in a nun’s habit, stand in the background. The photograph in the bottom right corner is of King’s funeral procession on April 9, 1968. The photograph depicts the procession being led by casket on mule-drawn wagon. The wagon is surrounded by men who have their hands resting on the sides and back. Printed above the photomontage is black text that reads “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to / the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright day daylight / of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.” Printed in the top third of the front cover is the magazine’s masthead. At the top is the magazine’s name in large text that reads [soul force]. Below are two lines of small text divided by black lines that read [“TO REDEEM THE SOUL OF AMERICA” / JANUARY, 1971 OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Vol. 3 No. 3]. The newsletter is four (4) pages, including the front and back cover, with articles and black-and-white images printed throughout. Articles titles include: [people’s day], a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.; [STATE OF A NATION] by Dr. Ralph Abernathy; [WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP CELEBRATE JANUARY 15TH?]; [WORLD CONFERENCE ON RELIGION, KYOTO, JAPAN], [LETTUCE BOYCOTT], and [STRIKE]. The first page, located on the interior of front cover, lists the Editorial Board members, editorial staff names, and press names, along with the volume and issue number. Printed on page three is the list of the Dr. Martin Luther King Legal Holiday Committee. The back cover is page four, and it includes three news items, a notice of postage paid, and printed in the bottom right corner, is a small, fillable magazine subscription form.
- Place printed
- Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Memorabilia and Ephemera - Political and Activist Ephemera
- Type
- newsletters
- Topic
- Activism
- American South
- Communication
- Government
- Labor
- Religion
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2015.130.4
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




