MLK's Jewish Connection | Unpacked

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy of change through nonviolence and civil disobedience is well known. You might be surprised to know that he was deeply connected to the Jewish community. There were Jewish leaders like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rabbi Joachim Prinz who stood by MLK's side in his fight for civil rights. How are these relationships still relevant today?

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:35 "Letter from a Birmingham city jail"
01:00 Positive peace as the presence of justice vs. Pursuer of peace
01:20 Rabbi Joachim Prinz's, friend of Martin Luther King
01:44 Jewish leaders at the March on Washington
02:29 Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, friend of Martin Luther King
02:55 Martin Luther King's support for Soviet Jewry
03:17 Martin Luther King's fight against Antisemitism and support for Israel
03:30 Jewish mourning over Martin Luther King's death

Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!

Watch next — How Jewish Writers Shaped Modern Comics

Recommended series — “The History of Israel Explained”

Let’s connect:

Image and Footage Credits:
- Gordon Parks/Mobile Museum of Art
- Library of Congress
- Baltimore Jewish Times
- Bettmann/NTB scanpix/Corbis
- NARA
- US DOJ
- Charles Del Vecchio/Washington Post
- JTA
- American Jewish Archives
- American Jewish Historical Society
- Adam Jones, Ph.D./Wikimedia
- AP
- Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
- NMAAHC
- The King Center
- The Jewish Theological Seminary
- US National Archives

About Explainers: From ancient Jewish traditions to the modern State of Israel, we explain it all. Diving into anything and everything related to Jewish culture, history, and even religion.

Understand Jewish holidays, Israeli politics, Jewish diasporic communities, and more. Learn about Judaism in pop culture, debunking myths about Jews, and explore obscure Israeli landmarks. We’re asking questions as basic as “What is the Talmud?”, and as obscure as “How did hip-hop boost Kosher wine sales?”, and everything in between.

About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.

#Judaism #Justice #Explainers

[zubairahmedbhat]

Now i got why malcolm x was discredited in states

[matthewmann]

He did not have as much or any Anti Jewish Sentiments, Phobias, Fears, Disliking, Or Despising

[exiledhebrew]

African americans must build ties with the Ashkenazi Jewish community

[TheJudge]

Thank you for telling me this. Very informative and eye opening

[torbenmller]

Thank God for your chosen people thank you for the chosen Jews in Israel Amen

[exiledhebrew]

I hope one day that more African Americans wake up; and come back to Torah Judaism, the G-d of Israel

[avocadowarrior]

Another good reason for preferring Malcolm X

[julesgordon]

And at the end of it all mlk jr was the only one that was assassinated.

[korirkemboi]

I prefer mkl to malcom x...he was building on the basis we are all humans..not which race superiority ..if malcom x is right then slavery was justified..bear with me...this earth is small we are all humans before God..mlk was the answer to elevating with the debt being only love..but as always the evil fights back...I urge my black brothers let our excellence be of love...lets never care about the past or maybe evil exist but we are stronger to always start a fresh

[thechromedude]

i thought the thumbnail said milk 💀💀💀💀

[jamesbreeden]

Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
A person that looks for God through meditation is a Jew. Jew is not a race but a title of one that goes inwardly. Blessings!

[anthonymwithaga]

Dr Martin Luther King Jr remains the greatest leader the WORLD has ever produced.

[graceziqver]

Im sorry I dont mean to hurt enyone. But He whas verry socialistic in his mind and had many sexual relation with woman and man.

[melvincaramba]

Sir Doctor Martin Luther King is a saint. He reads, study and believes the Complete Jewish HOLY BIBLE. That was the very reason why he loves the Promised Chosen Jewish People of ABBA YHWH. shalom Aleichem shalom

[alk]

This is all great but talk is cheap. Jews have their own issues with racism and many times are focused on other "victimized groups" that certainly had issues but were of much minor nature. I continue to see my own family this combination of racism while thinking well to do women who live Beverly Hills are the ones to save. Women outnumber minorities as well so I see a big problem with racism in parts of the Jewish world and wanting to help women of the majority culture. It is very troubling.

[exiledhebrew]

If Dr.King had embraced Torah Judaism; it would have done so much good, the African american community wasn't ready for it.

[dorajenkins]

Truth be told He was the true Jewish Hebrew Israelite . Israelis are not the true jew. Revelation 2:9 and revelation 3:9. But he died not knowing. Deuteronomy 28:15 and thru out the bible. Ashkenazi are converts to Judaism . The bible is black history.

[peggymattie]

A person who repents of sin and believes in Yeshua/Jesus is chosen. Ephesians chapters 1 and 2. Believe in him for eternal life. He is the only way to the Father.

[philliphoneysett]

Respect s to country n F B I not division that collisions n just that's 📀done n in n in not ✋n r I P M l K n many n wat stands never falls 👢

[williamhendrix]

Jesus was a Jew meaning Hebrew. Jewish means kinda a Jew meaning not a actual Jew so don't be tricked the Jews are our LORDS people not Jewish people