Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day is a U.S. federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of January. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor. Many people see this three-day holiday not as a day off for shopping, rather a “day on” spent in service to the community, in order to more appropriately commemorate the life of the civil rights leader. Born January 15, 1929, King was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39.

About the life of Dr. King

Some of the significant events of his remarkable life are the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, his leadership of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1957-1968, his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, and his influence on the landmark 1964 U.S. Civil Rights Act.

The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia serves as the premier resource dedicated to the philosophy of nonviolence intended to create the Beloved Community that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned. It is the largest repository of source materials on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ad the American Civil Rights Movement in the world, and includes papers of Dr. King, information about the organization he co-founded, and more than 200 oral history interviews.

Dr. King lead the American Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until 1968. He advocated for non-violent protest and is known for his far-reaching influence and the power of his words. A few notable moments in his include his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, his 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”–the manifesto of Dr. King’s philosophy, which today is studied in universities worldwide. And, his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, which can be viewed in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P_s3ChZlRY

Upcoming MLK Day events 2021

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Monday, January 18, 2021

Additional ideas:

• https://www.uwkc.org/events/mlk-day-of-service/ – (hosting a virtual panel on 1/21 called: “Philanthropy and Advancing Racial Equity” and gives info about the annual march on MLK Day)

• Making cards for patients and families at Seattle Children’s – https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/making-cards.pdf

• https://www.allforgood.org