Isaac Newton Farris Jr.

Isaac Newton Farris Jr. is a civil rights advocate, public speaker, and writer whose career has been shaped by the legacy of the American Civil Rights Movement. The nephew of Martin Luther King Jr. and son of Christine King Farris, Farris grew up immersed in activism and the moral philosophy central to the movement. He attended Morehouse College, majoring in political science, and has built a career at the intersection of politics, nonprofit leadership, and social justice advocacy.

Farris gained early political experience as Georgia field coordinator for the Walter Mondale presidential campaign, managed the successful Fulton County commissioner campaign of Martin Luther King III, and served as deputy manager for the reelection of Andrew Young as mayor of Atlanta. He also held executive-level government positions before becoming president and CEO of Clean Air Industries Inc., a company that developed patented technology enabling combustion engines to run on clean-burning methane gas. This experience across politics, government, and business provided Farris with a multidimensional perspective on policy development and implementation.

Farris has held prominent roles within organizations central to the King legacy. He served as chief operating officer of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change before being appointed its president and CEO, overseeing an institution that draws nearly 1 million visitors annually. He collaborated with Stanford University on the King Papers Project, helped maintain the center's archives documenting the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, and acted as a spokesperson for the King family. Farris later served as president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization founded by his uncle, furthering his role in advancing Dr. King's mission.

Farris is senior fellow of the King Center, where he writes, researches, and lectures on the life, philosophy, and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., with a focus on Kingian nonviolence and its relevance to contemporary American society. He writes a syndicated column and has appeared in major media outlets including CNN and USA Today. Farris has engaged with heads of state, CEOs, religious leaders, and grassroots activists globally. His speaking engagements address issues such as democracy, civil rights, and the principles of nonviolent protest, drawing on his knowledge of Dr. King's philosophy to connect the Civil Rights Movement with current social justice challenges.