Archival research for this website was done at the African American Museum of Iowa, located in Cedar Rapids. The museum will soon be featuring Charles Toney and his extensive contributions to the community in their upcoming temporary exhibit, If Objects Could Talk (available August 2017-July 2018).

Charles Toney was once a member of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission which still exists today. They work to present neutral facts in defense of the “Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965” in order to end discrimination. Their website also provides information including important Civil Rights dates in Iowa history. 

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was considered a radical by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, was seemingly obsessed with making Dr. King’s life difficult. He had Dr. King’s house and hotel rooms wiretapped, he sent threatening letters, and he blackmailed Dr. King. All in an attempt to prove Dr. King had connections to the Communist Party. We recognize that this is a narrative that often goes untold, but we think it is important to understand that the Civil Rights Movement faced challenges from everywhere, including the United States Government. To read more in- depth about this click on these links (please note that we did our best to find neutral sites that discuss the topic):

Martin Luther King Jr. and the Global Freedom Struggle

National Archives: Findings on MLK Assassination

The FBI vs. Martin Luther King 

FBI – Martin Luther King Jr. Vault