Dedicate MLK day to service of the community
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights hero who bravely fought for equality and died trying to achieve freedom. Every third Monday in January, we celebrate this civil rights hero with a national holiday, a day off work and school, to honor his memory but this day can be so much more than another one on the ski slopes.
Born on January 15 in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was raised in a household that believed in racial equality. He later became a Baptist minister, preaching about peacefully protesting for civil rights and playing a pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He continued this work by organizing sit-ins and marches, and eventually the March on Washington, where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. King’s impact on the United States is widespread and prompted the Civil Rights Act in 1968, and the creation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed on the third Monday of January since 1986.
But many Americans forget about the legacy of King when planning out their long weekend. They have forgotten that this day was dedicated as a national day of service since 1994, only eight years after its creation. Dedicating the day to service of the community more accurately reflects King’s spirit than any last minute getaway can. King was a man that devoted his entire life to bettering the world for future generations, boldly protesting injustices. Unfortunately, these beliefs were not shared by everyone and led to his assassination on April 4 at the age of only thirty nine.
Making the world a more just and equal place to live was King’s mission in life, so this MLK day, focus on one way to make your community a better place. Something that seems small, like dedicating an afternoon to volunteering at a soup kitchen or stocking shelves at a food pantry can have a big impact in someone else’s life. Contributing to community welfare and equity was what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was all about, as such, serving the community honors his memory on this important national holiday.
