The Indicator from Planet Money · Thursday, July 2, 2026
The Federal Reserve's mandate for maximum employment has historical roots connected to the Civil Rights movement. Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr., advocated for full employment as part of a broader set of policies addressing societal issues.
“This update came out of a pivotal time in American history, the Civil Rights movement.”
“One leader who pushed for this legislation was Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.”
“The King Center website has a video from the 1970s, and in it, Coretta Scott King speaks about full employment as part of a larger set of policies.”