Martin Luther King Jr. was talking about a universal basic income before it was cool

How Martin Luther King Jr. was a trailblazer in pushing for universal basic income

King is mostly known for his fight for racial equality, but he also understood that it was closely tied to the issue of economic justice.

Martin Luther King Jr. was talking about a universal basic income before it was cool

Martin Luther King Jr. fought for both racial and economic equality.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesMartin Luther King Jr. fought for both racial and economic equality during his life.He argued for a guaranteed basic income in a 1967 book.These days, many tech leaders are calling for something similar. Billionaire tech bros like Sam Altman and Elon Musk like to think they operate on the futuristic fringe.On at least one subject that is trendy …

MLK's fight for universal basic income

Each year on the holiday that bears his name, Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered for his immense contributions to the struggle for racial equality. What is less often remembered but equally important is that King saw the fight for racial equality as deeply intertwined with economic justice. To address inequality – and out of growing concern for how automation might displace workers – King became an early advocate for universal basic income. Un…