This Martin Luther King Day, study original sources
The United States observes the birthday of civil rights hero Martin Luther King each year. One-liners are quoted widely, and short video clips of the most famous speeches are aired. As scholars, we want the full source in the social, cultural, and historical context. In this 2022 focus on Research Relevance, we find relevant insights in the original writings of those we study.
Luckily, Dr. King was a prolific writer and speaker, and his words have been preserved for us to study. You can find a robust open-access archive The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. You can find the King Resources Overview, with links to primary documents. Resources include films and audio as well as letters, speeches, sermons, and essays. You can also find lesson plans and educational resources.
If you are wondering how to use these original source materials, find a collection of posts on the topic of documentary research methods from May 2021. These posts are particularly relevant:
The Society of American Archivists, a professional association dedicated to the needs and interests of archives and archivists, has put together an open-access resource that can help you get started. See Using Archives A Guide to Effective Research by Laura Schmidt.
Collections of electronic books and book chapters can be accessed on SAGE Research Methods. See these reading lists:
If you do not have access to these resources through an academic library, explore SAGE Research Methods with a free trial.
Read this collection of multidisciplinary articles to explore epistemological questions in Indigenous research.