MLK Day

This coming Monday, January 20th, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Minister, Nobel Prize Peace Winner, Civil Rights Activist, and Leader.  Click to read more
This coming Monday, January 20th, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Minister, Nobel Prize Peace Winner, Civil Rights Activist, and Leader. Inspired by Rosa Parks’ refusal to sit at the back of the bus, by Mahatma Gandhi’s peaceful resistance to the oppression of other people, by his Christian faith, and by watching his father take a stand against racism, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became a civil rights leader. He led the way in calling for desegregation and advocating for the rights of Black people, for freedom and justice, for labor rights, and for voting rights. He believed in the equality of all races and in a fully integrated society. He espoused and lived by the credo of non-violence and civil disobedience as a means of resistance to protest against injustice, inequality, racial prejudice and discrimination. Author Ta-Nahesi Coates succinctly framed Dr. King’s principle of non-violence by saying, “Violence corrupts the soul.” Dr. King’s advocacy for peaceful activism and love did not mean that love and kindness replace full equity or inclusion, but rather are the key tools to actively dismantle racism and the systems that perpetrate it daily. He was a hero who spoke out, made sacrifices, stood up for equal rights for people around the world, and he made history as a leader who stood for peace and social change.  He believed that we as a nation have been called to action and not complacency.
His powerful work and words were instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. He was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King’s work helped inspire the civil rights movement in South Africa as well as the Northern Irish Civil Rights Movement. After his assassination in 1968, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which is also known as the Fair Housing Act. In 1983, Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We remember and honor his legacy.
From Creative Kids Learning Center and from We Are Teachers.com
To learn more about MLK Day and social justice, try a few of the following activities with your child: 
I. Read with your children:

1.     My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King III (Grades K-4) This is a touching biography of Dr. King penned by his son, Marty. While the rest of the world knew him as a powerful leader, at home he was “just Dad.” This relatable tribute shares some meaningful, lesser-known examples of the King family’s activism to promote nonviolence.

2.      My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Christine King Farris (Grades K-5) This is the story of Dr. King’s childhood and rise to civil rights leader as only his sister could tell it — practical jokes and all. 

  1.  I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Grades K-5) Caldecott Honor artist Kadir Nelson’s stunning paintings scaffold students’ understanding of Dr. King’s most famous speech. The book includes an audio recording for sharing with students as well.
  2. Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport (Grades K-5) This bookshelf staple—which uses Dr. King’s own words paired with moving artwork to tell his life story—never fails to leave students awestruck.
  3.  Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Six Guiding Beliefs (as told by his niece) by Angela Farris Watkins, (Grades K-5) This primer on the principles that drove Dr. King’s work is an excellent springboard for conversations about applying his beliefs to our own lives.
  4. I Am Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ordinary People Change the World) by Brad Meltzer, (Grades 2-5) Don’t be fooled by the comic book style of this series — the text packs a lot of information key events in Dr. King’s life and work. Use it alongside some of the more artful titles.
  5. Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader, (Grades 2-5) Kids are drawn to this reliably engaging biography series. Clearly written text with ample illustrations helps students understand how Dr. King’s work came to be, and how it shaped history.
II. Join the National Day of Service. Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” That concept inspired the National MLK Day of Service, held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day each year. Take your students out into the community to donate their time and efforts to a worthy cause. Find 50+ ideas for volunteering with kids here. Donate your time on this day of service. Start creating change within your community by giving back. Organize a food drive, clean up the trash at your local park, or cook one of your favorite recipes for a family or neighbor in need. 
III. Listen to a read-aloud book! Explore the history and achievements of Dr. King with your children by reading or listening to one of the following recommendations: 
1. Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford - Listen   
2. Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.? by Lisbeth Kaiser - Listen 
3. We March by Shane W. Evans - Listen 
4. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold - Listen  

IV. Play these videos to inspire a better understanding of Dr. King’s impact and how you can help make a difference too. Three of them are kid-friendly songs and one is a short history lesson. 
5. Watch Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: I Have a Dream
6. Write a DREAM acrostic poem
7. Mix up colors of crayons and paper. So simple, and so effective. Give each student a piece of construction paper and a crayon that are both the same color and tell them to draw a picture. They’ll soon notice that they can’t accomplish much, and you can use this to spark a conversation about the need to embrace all colors together. Learn more: Mixing Colors at “Herding Kats in Kindergarten”.

V. Create affirmations that encourage confidence. Write MLK-inspired phrases and place them on sticky notes around the house, such as on a mirror, dresser, toy bin, or empty wall. Try things like, "I am STRONG!” or “My curly hair is unique!” or “My skin makes me feel special!" Discuss the importance of diversity with your child and how we’re all unique and special. 

Did you know? From the BBC:
  1. Dr. King was the youngest person at the time to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
  2. Dr. King’s 'I have a dream' speech was improvised. Halfway through his speech at the 1963, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" The call-out prompted King to pivot to a previous sermon he'd delivered, where he described a version of the American Dream that was equal and accessible to all citizens. His dream of equality is quintessentially American, Mr. Martin told the BBC. "Despite all the disparagement he endured, King did a wonderful job of constantly trying to show how his efforts were in line with American ideals," he said.
  3. King decided at college to become a preacher. In 1944, Martin Luther King Jr was admitted to Morehouse College at the age of 15!
  4. He was arrested more than 25 times!
  5. He was a Trekkie. Nichelle Nichols, better known as the original Lt Nyota Uhura in Star Trek, was once introduced to someone claiming to be "her biggest fan" - Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Nichols had resigned from her ground-breaking role on Star Trek days before they met at an awards ceremony. But when she informed King she planned to leave the show…King was adamant that she could not abandon the iconic role. "He said: 'For the first time on television we will be seen as we should be seen every day, as intelligent, quality, beautiful people… who can go into space,'" Nichols recalled. "I just stood there realizing every word he was saying was the truth. At that moment, the world tilted for me." She would continue in the role for years.
 
We hope these activities, stories, and actions inspire you to embrace activism, celebrate diversity, and fight for equality, just as Dr. King so bravely did. Never underestimate the power of one person to be a catalyst for widespread change. May we continue Dr. King’s work together to pursue a more just and a more equal world, remembering his words:
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice."
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed."
 
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?''
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