Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
I remember a few discussions with my parents about separate water fountains and signs that directed white people to go one way and black people to go another. Their words made me think of a black girl on our high school basketball team who had the admiration of everyone in the school. I thought of her as a star student in every way, and if I had gone to another place to get a drink of water, it would have been because I didn’t feel worthy to breathe her same air.
Tha’ts largely because of a man known as the spokesperson of the American Civil Rights Movement. Here are 5 ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, in memory of this man and his history-making message.
Attend a Parade
Houston’s 42nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will be one of the biggest in the nation. Opening ceremony is at 9:35, and the parade starts at 10:00. More info here.
Watch a Movie
Invite the grandkids over for a memory making afternoon of popcorn, sodas and a very different kind of movie-watching experience. Have a few meaningful questions / comments ready to spur the post-movie conversation, but mostly get ready for some honest dialog between you and the children upon whom your legacy lies. There are many choices on Amazon Prime, whether an award-winning movie like Selma, or documentaries like In Remembrance of Martin.
Ponder a Quote
Martin Luther King, Jr, gave hundreds of speeches and delivered as many sermons during his time on earth. His words were wise and live on in many quotes worth pondering years and years later.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Participate in a March
One of the largest marches to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is held yearly in San Antonio. More than 300,000 people are expected to attend.
Read a Book
There are so many books written about Martin Luther King, Jr. While most libraries are closed today in honor of Dr. King, you can download one for your Kindle from Amazon or head over to a local bookstore to purchase an inspirational read about this man who did so much for America.
Write it Down
Use this occasion as a prompt to write about the conversations you remember with your own parents and the way you’ve seen the world change because of Martin Luther King, Jr. Make these pages a valuable page of the memoirs you plan for your kids and grandkids to read.
Revisit the Speech
“I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.” Revisit Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most effective and memorable speech as a way to honor the day.
There’s always so much in the news about civil rights and about racial tension in America. And I could be wrong, but it seems like to me that for most of us in America, the lines have become much more blurred than drawn.
Thankfully, because of people like Martin Luther King, Jr., in one generation’s time, the conversations you and I have with our kids are much different than the ones our parents had with us.
Do you have a favorite MLK quote or a story to share? Leave it in the comments below.
Encouraging a life filled with everyday intentional adventure, and a few days of pondering the legacies of great men like Martin Luther King, Jr.,
