Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addresses live television cameras and a crowd of 25,000 on the steps of the Alabama state capitol at the conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery, AL March for Voting Rights, on March 25, 1965. This was just a few hundred feet from Dexter Avenue Baptist Church (seen in the background), where he got his start as a minister in 1954.
Somerstein was the Picture Editor of the student newspaper at the City College of New York and traveled to Alabama to capture the march. He documented the entire 54-mile journey and captured hundreds of images not only of the marchers, but also the variety of onlookers who either supported or opposed the effort.
A number of his images were used as reference in the award-winning film Selma (2014) and this image in particular was recreated specifically for the movie posters and advertising.
In 2015, Elton John asked Somerstein to donate a signed version of this photograph to put up for auction at his annual Oscar gala benefitting the AIDS Foundation. Somerstein agreed, and produced a one-of-a-kind large size print (approx. 48" x 72"), which then sold for $225,000!
Exhibition History:
Rosa Sat, Martin Walked, & Barack Ran: From a Seat on a Bus to a Desk at The White House, February 2010.
This image was featured for the first time for collectors at this landmark exhibition.
Collector's Notes:
Stephen Somerstein's museum-quality photographs are printed to order in San Francisco. Each photograph is hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery following purchase.
PLEASE NOTE: As one of the most powerful images of MLK Jr. and his important legacy, this image has been very popular with photography collectors in the last decade. Some sizes are now extremely limited. Please contact us for the latest availability.
Buyers receive a certificate of authenticity following delivery of their new artwork.