How did Martin Luther King's message get across to America? Partly through pop culture. Music, movies, TV helped spread his message in the '60s

A morning march from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to Hance Park kicked off daylong activities in Phoenix. Residents, community leaders and elected officials joined the two mile walk, including Gov. Katie Hobbs. During last Friday’s annual MLK awards breakfast, she noted the holiday falls on the same day as the presidential inauguration.

Turner Classic Movies honors civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. ’s legacy all day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday January 20) with 24 hours’ worth of films dealing with racism and the fight for racial justice. Here’s a breakdown of TCM’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day schedule and what to expect in these powerful stories.

"While others were advocating for freedom by 'any means necessary,' including violence, Martin Luther King Jr. used the power of words and acts of nonviolent resistance, such as protests, grassroots organizing, and civil disobedience to achieve seemingly impossible goals," according to The King Center.

Mesa celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a parade and festival under this year's theme, "Building Bridges: Cultivating Our Community."

A Life,' spoke on a Jan. 3 episode of NPR’s 'Book of the Day' podcast about Martin Luther King Jr., and noted that MLK didn’t have plans to become a civil rights leader when he joined the Montgomery Bus boycott in 1965.