- By Kimi Sakamoto
- January 21, 2013
- Comments Off on Hats & History: Happy Martin Luther King Day!
Hats are a part of history. For the past several centuries, no man was considered fully dressed without a hat. Regardless of profession, race or social status, a hat was a must.
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we’re going back in time to look at Dr. King’s style and accomplishments.
One of the most influential Americans of the 20th century, Martin Luther King Jr. is most famous for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and use of nonviolence to help eliminate segregation and promote the dream of equality for all American citizens, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or beliefs. He risked his life daily to stand by his principles, but was sadly assassinated for them at the age of 39. Before his death, Dr. King was one of the youngest recipients to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace and was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, after he passed away.
King was not just a good person, he was a stylish one as well. Dr. King was a hat man who kept up with the times donning several different fedora styles over the years.
A stand out fedora Dr. King wore was during the mid ’50s and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He was often photographed in a wide brim light grey fedora with a black band. His fedora featured a center dent crown and looks similar to the Stetson Pinnacle and Stetson Temple.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left a legacy of peace and equality and today we honor him. Happy Martin Luther King Day!
About the author
Kimi Sakamoto is the Social Marketing Coordinator for Village Hat Shop, an online retail leader in headwear and fashion accessories. In addition to managing the company's social media presence - including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram - she is a regular contributor to The Hat Blog and its sister site - Less Chat, More Hat. Born and raised in California, Kimi enjoys spending time outdoors. You can find her on Google+ and Twitter.