In-Text References

Historical and Political References

• Classical Greece (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides, Aristophanes) (3.1–2)
• Roman Empire (4.1)
• Renaissance Europe (5.1)
• Martin Luther (6.1)
• Abraham Lincoln: Emancipation Proclamation (7.1)
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt: first inaugural address (8.1)
• Independence of South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana from colonial rule (10.8)
• Nuclear proliferation (11.5)
• Colonization of the world by European powers (12.1)
• Memphis sanitation workers' strike (throughout)
• King-led march with the Memphis sanitation workers (15.6)
• Birmingham anti-segregation demonstrations (17–18, 39)
• Communism (19.6)
• First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (19.7–11)
• Sit-ins (25.3, 25.10, 36.2–3) (King adopts the phrases "bank-in" and "insurance-in" from "sit-in," a protest technique used in the Civil Rights Movement.)
• Stabbing of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Izola Curry (32.2–35.7)
• Freedom Riders (37)
• Albany (Georgia) anti-segregation demonstrations (38)
• Civil Rights Act of 1964 (39)
• "I Have a Dream" speech/March on Washington (40)
• Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 (41)
• Bomb threat against King's flight to Memphis (43.4–6)

Biblical and Other Religious References

• Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (2.4, 14.4, 45.2–10)
• Rite of baptism (17.13–16)
• Jeremiah 20:9 (20.4)
• Amos 3:8 (20.5)
• Amos 5:24 (20.6)
• Isaiah 61:1 / Luke 4:18 (20.7)
• Heaven (21.6)
• Exodus 33:3 (21.7)
• The New Jerusalem (21.8)
• The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25–37 (27–30)
• Martin Buber, I and Thou

Cultural References

• Blackface minstrelsy (13.1) The stereotype of the foolish, fidgety, submissive African American was a standby of blackface minstrelsy, a popular form of American theater in which usually white actors would apply dark face paint and mock (what they claimed to be) Black characteristics and culture.
• Song: "Over My Head" (18.2) A spiritual with lyrics specially adapted for the Civil Rights Movement.
• Song: "We Shall Overcome" (18.5)
• Julia Ward Howe: "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (45.12) Widely known in its sung form.

References to This Text

Literary and Philosophical References

• Katori Hall: The Mountaintop, 2009 play about King's last day.

Art References

• Abigail DeVille: Only When It's Dark Enough Can You See the Stars (an installation piece)

Historical and Political References

• President Barack Obama: New Hampshire primary speech
• General Colin Powell: Howard University commencement address
• President Bill Clinton: Remarks to the Convocation of the Church of God in Christ in Memphis
• Cesar Chavez: Lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pop Culture References

• Bob Marley: "Ride Natty Ride" (Maybe not a direct allusion, but the lyrics "Jah [God] says this judgment / could never be with water / so no water could put out this fire" echo Dr. King's description of the Birmingham marchers (17). Also refers to God's promise to Noah never to flood the Earth again, which is big of him.)
• Immortal Technique: "Civil War" ("Mountaintop" is sampled at the beginning, after which the language gets a little, ah, thorny. Fair warning.)
• Jay Electronica: "Jazzmatazz (Guru Tribute)" ("Mountaintop" is sampled at the beginning.)