Fact Check: Real Pic of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King?

Claim:

A color photo authentically depicts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in 1956.

Rating:

Mixture ( About this rating? )

What's True:

The photo itself, in black-and-white, is authentic. Photographer Michael Ochs took it in May 1956. However...

What's Undetermined:

It's unclear whether the photo was later colorized or otherwise digitally altered to appear in color. As far as we can determine, the original was likely shot on black-and-white film.

In July 2024, a color photo of what appeared to be American activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, went viral on X ( archived ), garnering more than 16.9 million views and 35,000 likes, as of this writing.

The photo is authentic in the sense that it accurately depicts real people and a real scene. A black-and-white version of the photograph is currently available on Getty Images , credited to photographer Michael Ochs and dated May 1956.

(Getty Images)

The caption was as follows:

MONTGOMERY, AL - MAY 1956: Civil rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King pose for a photo across the street from the Alabama Judicial Building in May 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

However, it's unclear whether the photo circulating in social media posts was later colorized or otherwise digitally altered to appear in color. As far as we can determine, the original was likely shot on black-and-white film.

In other words, it's unclear where exactly the color version of the photo originated. Bernice King – Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's daughter – posted the version in color on multiple platforms in July 2024 ( archived ).

We reached out to Bernice King seeking information on where the color version originated and any further context surrounding the photo, and we will update this story if we receive a response from her team.

In sum, because we found the original photo on Getty Images confirming its authenticity, and it's unclear whether the photo was later colorized or otherwise digitally altered to appear in color, we have considered this photo a mixture of truth and possible digital manipulation — though it's unknown.

Sources:

'Civil Rights Leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.and His Wife...' Getty Images , 31 Aug. 2015, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/civil-rights-leader-reverend-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-and-news-photo/486107058.