Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
“We must work unceasingly to lift this nation that we love to a higher
destiny, to a new plateau of compassion, to a more notable expression of
humanness." --- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in
the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best
known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using
nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.
CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY
Writing in The Washington Post in 1983, Coretta Scott King
provided a vision of how the holiday honoring her husband
should be observed: "The holiday must be substantive as
well as symbolic. It must be more than a day of celebration . .
. Let this holiday be a day of reflection, a day of teaching
nonviolent philosophy and strategy, a day of getting involved
in nonviolent action for social and economic progress."
TIMELINE: MAJOR KING EVENTS
Timeline of Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and career can be found at
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlktime1.html.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
The MLK, Jr. Day observance in the Central territory takes different forms. It may be a part of
Cultural Awareness Week events, and while an individual corps, facility, or service unit may have its
own observance, the day encourages coming together. It might be celebrated in a United Meeting,
or as a Service Project as part of the larger community. There is often a guest speaker whose
message reflects the life and legacy of Dr. King or who focuses on the issues he advocated, such as
justice and equality. There may be a training event for cross-cultural competence. Or, there may be
a cultural meal and an expression of cultural arts – music or verbal or visual arts. A variety of events
and activities are possible!
The following provide some suggestions that you can adapt for your setting.
2
►SERVICE PROJECTS
Organize or participate in a service project with a church or community group. Dr. King was an
advocate of diverse people groups coming together to address real needs within the community.
The MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE might be one way to do that. (See info
below)
►THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE
This site provides a variety of project ideas and toolkits for the MARTIN LUTHER ING, JR. DAY
OF SERVICE. This is an opportunity to address real needs within the community with the
involvement of different community groups. Go to http://www.nationalservice.gov/specialinitiatives/days-service/martin-luther-king-jr-day-service-0. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
►SELMA: THE MOVIE
Selma is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965,
when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face
of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson
(Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the
civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader
and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the
movement prompted change that forever altered history. Retrieved from
http://www.selmamovie.com/#story. January 15, 2015.
SELMA Reviews | Study Guides | Articles
Selma Review + Study Guides: For Youth
http://youthspecialties.com/blog/selma-discussion-guide. Retrieved 01.14.15
Christianity Today Review of Selma
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/december-web-only/selma.html. Retrieved 01.14.15
Sojourner’s Magazine
'Selma's David Oyelowo on Playing MLK and What It Means to Be a Christian
http://sojo.net/blogs/2015/01/08/selmas-david-oyelowo-playing-mlk-and-what-it-means-bechristian. Retrieved 01.14.15
►MORE THAN A DREAM
Dr. King dealt with many issues that affected the lives of people. And there were many
inspirational sayings that deal with these issues. Here are some of his speeches, not as familiar
as “I Have A Dream. But, reflect the variety and breadth of issues that he spoke about
►A LIVING HISTORY
3
Invite those in your church or community who may have witnessed the events of the Civil Rights
Era to share their stories on the legacy of Dr. King. Or, research and discuss events that
happened in your community. Consider The Freedom Walk in Detroit, the day Dr. King spoke at
Western Michigan University, or the rally held at Soldier Field in Chicago, among others.
►PINTEREST
Pin quotes, photos, and videos that express MLK and his theme of love, courage, equality, etc.
►HUMAN WRITES: WORDS AND IMAGES CELEBRATING DR. KING
Post a photo of yourself holding a printed or handmade sign with your favorite Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. quotation or any word or phrase that captures the spirt of Dr. King, human rights,
diversity and inclusion. Share the message on your blog or Facebook page.
HUMAN WRITES: WORDS AND IMAGES CELEBRATING DR. KING. Retrieved from http://mlk.uiowa.edu/. January 13,
2015.
►YOUTUBE
On YouTube, you can see the man and hear his spoken words. Remember Dr. King’s
messages addressed a variety of issues, including race, poverty, the role of the church,
equality, war, and much more.
MARTIN LUTHER KING – A 5 MINUTE BIOGRAPHY
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmEZGbUvW2M. January 13, 2015
MLK ON THE OTHER AMERICA 1967
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3H978KlR20. January 13, 2015
DRUM MAJOR INSTINCT (The last sermon prior to his assignation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBiFnDuCJIU. Retrieved 01.15.15
HOW LONG NOT LONG
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) delivers his famous "How Long, Not Long" speech on the steps of the state
capitol building in Montgomery, Alabama.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOubonZQEzM. January 13, 2015
►SERMONS AND SPEECHES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
The sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. comprise an extensive catalog of
American writing and oratory — some of which are internationally well-known, others remain
unheralded, and some await re-discovery. King himself observed, "In the quiet recesses of my
heart, I am fundamentally a clergyman, a Baptist preacher."
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermons_and_speeches_of_Martin_Luther_King,_Jr. January 13, 2015
4
“A Realistic Look at the Question of Progress in the Area of Race Relations,” Address Delivered at
St. Louis Freedom Rally, April 1957, St. Louis, Mo. From The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project.
Retrieved http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/primarydocuments/Vol4/10-Apr-1957_ARealisticLook.pdf. January 13, 2015.
►BOOK
Washington, James M. (ed.).1991. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
of Martin Luther King Jr. HarperCollins Publisher. NY.
►ADDITIONAL IDEAS
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration
http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/mlk/calendar.html. Retrieved 01.15.15.
The Salvation Army
USA Central Territory
Compiled by the Multicultural Ministries Department