Almost 43 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As his commanding stage presence showed, he was a man of boundless energy — enough to foster a national fervor for racial equality. But where exactly did he get all that energy? Was Wheaties the Breakfast of Civil Rights Champions?

No, King liked soul food — at the very least, "not something like filet mignon." Even when the Atlanta-born King was pursuing his theology doctorate at Boston University, he frequently chowed down at Mrs. Jackson's Western Lunch Box — a popular southern soul food eatery that served black students. There and down South, his preferred diet consisted mostly of red beans and rice, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, pigs' feet and ham hocks.

While King was studying in Boston, he met his future wife Coretta Scott, who was then enrolled at the New England Conservatory of Music. They married in 1953 and gave birth to their second son, Dexter Scott King, in 1961. Dexter, who turns 45 this month and is now a prominent civil rights activist in his own right, has eschewed his pop's much-loved soul food and embraced veganism. See, after visiting comedian/activist Dick Gregory's health spa in the Bahamas, Dexter decided that eating healthier foods made for a healthier soul. His mom has since joined him in the vegan ranks (though his sister Bernice thus far only professes an "interest").

Dexter and Coretta King believe that promoting animal rights is just the next "logical extension" of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of non-violence. But if their departed dad and husband were still alive today, would he too have given up his beloved pigs' feet and jumped into veganism? And if he did, where could he get some vegan soul food methadone in these parts?

Nowadays, the District plays host to a fair number of vegan-friendly soul food kitchens that make pigs’ feet look a little, well, uncivil. Here are our favorites:

Soul Vegetarian Restaurant & Exodus Carry-Out. Across from Howard University, D.C.'s outpost of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem's Soul Vegetarian chain serves up a decent tofu burger made with black-eyed peas (one of MLK’s favorites) and sides such as dairy-free mac-and-cheese and rice and gravy. 2606 Georgia Avenue NW. (202) EAT-SOUL.

Ben’s Chili Bowl. Although justifiably known for its chili-laden half-smokes, Ben’s Chili Bowl offers some surprisingly good veggie fare — including vegan chili fries, vegan burgers, and heaping bowls of veggie chili. 1213 U Street NW. (202) 667-0909.

Secrets of Nature’s Health Food. Over in Anacostia, Secrets of Nature’s Health Food prepares mock meats such as vegetarian sausage and spare ribs. 3923 South Capitol Street SW. (202) 562-0041.

Photo by flickr user ten-nine.