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About This Project
Summary
Our video on Willie Pearl Mackey King brought history to life by sharing her firsthand account of typing and distributing MLK’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Through her direct address to the camera, viewers connected with a woman who risked her life for the Civil Rights Movement. We published the video as part of the Unsung Heroes multimedia package on AARP’s website and shared it across AARP’s Facebook accounts during Black History Month, aligning with celebrations of Black excellence.
Goals & Objectives
Our goal was to offer a view of history that textbooks cannot by spotlighting an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement. We strove to capture Mackey King’s reflections on how MLK’s letter came to be as a reminder of the dangers people faced and the courage it took to act anyway.
Results & Impact
The MLK Jr. Research and Education Institute asked for a copy of the full interview to for future generations. On Facebook, the video reached more than 100k people, garnering 90k views and 5k+ engagements, with many comments thanking AARP for spotlighting this piece of history.
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