In an attempt to auction off some original works of Martin Luther King Jr at the Sotheby auction, Harry Belafonte was met with some opposition from the Martin Luther King Jr. estate when they blocked the sell. Belafonte has the notes that were in Dr. King’s suit pocket when he was assassinated in 1968. He also has a condolence letter written to Coretta King by President Lyndon Johnson. And, he has various King speeches, including the outline for the famous “The casualties of the war in Vietman” speech.
The attempted auction occurred in 2008 but Belafonte has waited until now to act by filing a lawsuit asking a judge to confirm he’s the rightful owner. Currently Sotheby’s is holding all the docs until a court decides who owns the priceless stuff.
Mr. Belafonte gained possession of the docs due to having a very long and close relationship with King during the civil rights movement. Harry Belafonte and King worked tirelessly together to give the less fortunate equal rights.