+ Coretta Scott King: A Life and Legacy of Freedom Tracy Ward LIBM 6320 Dr. Wendy Rickman Erin Currier ~ Artist

+ Coretta Scott King Early Life Born April 27, 1927 in Perry County Alabama Walked 5 miles for elementary education Her mother hired a bus to drive all African American kids to high school. Named class valedictorian in 1945 Graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, with a music education degree. Graduated from Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in voice and violin. It was here that she met Martin Luther King, Jr. They were married in 1953 and had four children. She was a faithful pastor’s wife, who raised children, kept house, and supported his role in Civil Rights. Uffelman, M. (2008). “Coretta Scott King.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 at

+ Coretta Scott King Achievements Founded Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy Delegate at 1962 Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland Founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, “a memorial to King’s vision of peace and equality and houses an extensive library of documents and artifacts central to the Civil Rights Movement” (Uffelman, 2008, para. 7). Convened the Soviet-American Women’s Summit in Washington, D. C. Wrote My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1969 Edited The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1983 Numerous honorary degrees Ghandi Peace Prize from India in 2004 Forest in Northern Israel named in her honor Super Bowl XL dedicated to her and Rosa Parks Uffelman, M. (2008). “Coretta Scott King.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 at

+ More Achievements 1 st woman to give a speech at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England 1 st woman to speak to students at Harvard University’s Class Day Woman of the Year in 1960 and 1968 Mis, M. S. (2008). Meet Coretta Scott King. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

+ Coretta Scott King & Civil Rights Part of Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 Worked on passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964 She organized Freedom Concerts, combining her love of music with her life’s work to end discrimination. Coretta Scott King. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 22, 2011 from Academy of Achievement (2008). “Coretta Scott King Interview: Pioneer of Civil Rights.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 from Coretta Scott King discusses her music background and how it was put to use during her lifetime.

+ Other Humanistic and Civil Rights efforts Compared homophobia to racism, “in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood” (Coretta Scott King, n.d., “LGBT Equality,” para. 1) Advocate for world peace and the rights of those in poverty Opposed apartheid and capital punishment Speaks out for LGBT rights, and often brings her husband’s words back…”Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Coretta Scott King. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 22, 2011 from

+ CSK Awards History The illustrator award began in 1974, and was given to George Ford for his work in the biography, Ray Charles, by Sharon Mathis. The awards originated in 1969 after a discussion among librarians, Glyndon Flynt Greer and Mabel McKissick, and the publisher John Carroll. They noted that no African American authors or illustrators had won the Newbery or Caldecott Awards The first author’s award was presented during the New Jersey Library Association meeting in May The first winner was Lillie Patterson, who was honored for her book that chronicled the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. for youth readers. The current awards are governed by the Coretta Scott King Task Force, which is now a part of the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) Smith, H. M. (Ed.). (2008). The Coretta Scott King Awards: (4 th ed.). Chicago: American Library Association.

+ Coretta Scott King Awards Basics Awarded to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding educational contributions The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples Other related awards include the John Steptoe Award for talented new authors and the Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards are designed to pay tribute to the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for carrying on his work. American Library Association.(2011). “Coretta Scott King Awards.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 from

+ CSK Award Seals Designed by Lev Mills Seal components circle (continuity) child reading a book five religious symbols of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Taoism. Dove of peace and a pyramid, which symbolizes strength of humans, as well as Atlanta University where the seal was designed. Original color of bronze for winner, silver for honors Current colors of black with bronze for winners, pewter for honors John Steptoe Award is in green for new beginnings American Library Association.(2011). “Coretta Scott King Awards.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 from

+ …and the author winners have been… Maya Angelou (1971) Pearl Bailey (1976) Ossie Davis (1979) Berry Gordy, Sr. (1980) Sidney Poitier (1981) Toni Morrison (2005) Smith, H. M. (Ed.). (2008). The Coretta Scott King Awards: (4 th ed.). Chicago: American Library Association.

+ From We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (2009 Award) From Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane, illustrated by Sean Qualls (2009 Honor) From Dream Variations, illustrated by Benny Andrews (2007 Honor) From Rosa, illustrated by Bryan Collier (2006 Award) Smith, H. M. (Ed.). (2008). The Coretta Scott King Awards: (4 th ed.). Chicago: American Library Association. …and the illustrator winners have been…

+ References Academy of Achievement. (2008). “Coretta Scott King Interview: Pioneer of Civil Rights.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 from American Library Association. (2011). “Coretta Scott King Awards.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 from Coretta Scott King. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 22, 2011 from Mis, M. S. (2008). Meet Coretta Scott King. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. Smith, H. M. (Ed.). (2008). The Coretta Scott King Awards: (4 th ed.). Chicago: American Library Association. Uffelman, M. (2008). “Coretta Scott King.” Retrieved October 22, 2011 at