Canton in Stark County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Martin Luther King Jr. in Canton

Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, September 21, 2019

1. Martin Luther King Jr. in Canton Marker

Inscription.

"All life is interrelated in today's world. I can't be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be; and you can't be what you ought to be 'till I am what I ought to be."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke these words before 3,500 people while addressing a Freedom Rally here on March 20, 1964. His speech addressed issues of racial equality and unity, and urged passage of the Civil Rights Act. On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act into law, prohibiting discrimination based on a person's race, color, religion, sex, or nationality.

Erected 2018 by Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Greater Canton, Inc., Canton Repository, Canton City School District, Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 27-76.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Peace. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 20, 1964.

Location. 40° 49.091′ N, 81° 23.824′ W. Marker is in Canton, Ohio, in Stark County. The marker is located at the Memorial Field House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1715 Harrison Avenue NW, Canton OH 44708, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker. “The Cradle of Professional Football” (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Williams Brick Plant (approx. ¼ mile away); Spanish Mortar (approx. half a mile away); French Cannon (approx. half a mile away); Stark County Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Base of the Conning Tower of the US Battleship Maine (approx. half a mile away); Eulogy of the Common Soldier (approx. half a mile away); Merchant Marine Memorial (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.

Also see . . . Lost and Found: Tape of MLK's 1964 Dayton Speech. University of Dayton website entry (Submitted on July 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, September 21, 2019

2. Martin Luther King Jr. in Canton Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 386 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on June 7, 2023, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 22, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.