Martin Luther King

"In trying to tackle such an ambitious project, the question we had to ask ourselves is, 'Why now?' The answer lies in MLK's own words: 'All progress is precarious.' With every step forward, new obstacles emerge and we must never forget that his life and his teachings continue to challenge us every day to stand up to hatred and inequality." — DreamWorks CEO and co-chairman Stacey Snider on DreamWorks' Martin Luther King Jr. biopic

This news of a movie about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life is indeed timely. Produced by Steven Spielberg, "[t]he DreamWorks project marks the first film to be authorized by King's estate and gives the producers the right to utilize King's intellectual property — including his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech delivered during the 1963 March on Washington — to create the definitive portrait of his life." Apparently Spielberg has long wished to make a movie about the civil rights leader and he is determined to create "a story of undeniable power that we can all be proud of."

After the critical success of the Harvey Milk biopic last Fall, it's easy to envision a moving and insightful story about Martin Luther King Jr., another powerful activist whose life was cut far too short. Is there an actor in Hollywood who could aptly portray Martin Luther King? Or perhaps they should look for a total newcomer?

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• A tornado ripped through the Little Rock, AR, area last night. The National Weather Service is reporting an unknown number of injuries. A spokesman for the local sheriff's department says, "there's some structural damage in the city of Little Rock and several areas north of North Little Rock. A lot of trees and power lines are down." The storm decimated a mobile home park leaving 50 trailers on fire. This Winter's weather hasn't been kind to Arkansas. In the last two months, Arkansas has seen a tornado during a storm outbreak that killed 13, a foot of snow, more than a foot of rain, and near-record flooding.



• Britain's Prince Philip, husband to Queen Elizabeth, has been hospitalized. The 86-year-old is being treated for a chest infection. Reports say he's stable, and a spokeswoman says "His Royal Highness's program of engagements for the weekend have been canceled."
• This day marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, while helping organize a strike by sanitation workers, then some of the poorest of the city's working poor. Dr. King will be remembered today nationwide and with a march through Memphis and the laying of wreaths at the site of King's assassination.
• Zimbabwe's government staged separate police raids on the main opposition party and foreign journalists. Four journalists, including one from the New York Times, have been taken into custody for violating the country's media laws. Zimbabwe only has one, government-controlled newspaper.

I remember learning about Martin Luther King Jr. when I was a kid. But MLK did not become more than the name of a three-day weekend until I read his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. As I read the letter, I could feel the urgency of his cause and the pain of the injustice. In celebration of his life, go ahead and read the open letter that Dr. King wrote from city jail in order to defend peaceful demonstrations and insist that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

And while you're at it, watch the full version of his "I Have a Dream" (above). We all know at least one famous line from the remarkable speech, but there is something extremely powerful about watching Dr. King deliver his dream of racial harmony.

• Cinematical muses over the recently announced movie project about the assassination of Martin Luther King.
• TV Squad counts down the five worst TV character names of all time.
• Apparently today is National Coming Out Day, and Film Experience has an homage to the out and proud members of the film community.
• Rolling Stone's Rock & Roll Daily reports that Madonna could follow in Radiohead's footsteps by ditching her record label.
• Aquarium Drunkard has a Bob Dylan retrospective box giveaway!
• Vulture has the shocking news that Fox has shut down the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" sing-alongs!
• Popwatch asks who your top TV icons are, kicking things of with fond words for Chevy Chase.
• TV Cocktail has the news that "Bachelor" Andy Baldwin is being deployed to Iraq.
• YumSugar wants to know if you agree with the "Top Chef" Fan Favorite winner.
• Pop Candy links to a free sampler of music from the upcoming CMJ festival.

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As we all know, today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What you may not know is that Dr. King was a true fan of good old fashioned authentic southern food. Born in Alabama in 1929, Dr. King was raised eating the African-American food of the south, commonly called Soul Food and his favorite food was fried pig's ears sandwiches. Usually I would encourage you to make this dish in honor of him and his accomplishments, but I doubt any of us will be frying up pig's ears today. Instead, I suggest we make another of his soul food fave, smothered pork chops. For the recipe, read more