Did you know, on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick, there are luminaries celebrating Booker T. Washington and Martin Luther King Jr? Keep reading to learn more about both famous African-Americans.
Booker T. Washington was born into slavery, emancipated as a child and became a national spokesperson for African-Americans.
- At 25, he became the first principal of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama which opened on July 14, 1881.
- He was a teacher, a leader, best-selling author and social activist.
- He worked hard to broaden educational opportunities for African-Americans and remained the head of the thriving Tuskegee Institute until his death in 1915.
Booker T. Washington’s luminary is located on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick along a median on Walnut Street between Meridian Street and Capitol Avenue.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.
- King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the many movements, boycotts, and non-violent protests throughout the south.
- In 1963 he led the March on Washington where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
- He received the Nobel Peace Prize on October 14, 1964 for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.
The luminary garden dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. can be found at the southeast corner of Washington and Pennsylvania Streets.
Have you seen these and the other luminaries on the Glick Peace Walk? Which ones are your favorite?