Two Ways to Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963. Picture courtesy of Martin Luther King Jr. Picture courtesy of National Archives via Wikimedia Commons.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day when all 50 states recognize the contributions and positive impact Dr. King had domestically and internationally, as well as to honor the man. A study of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can easily be added to your school today or any time throughout the school year with just two resources; watching the “I Have a Dream” speech and visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

Some History on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia and died on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee by assignation at the age of 39. He was a Baptist minister and a civil rights activist, especially for the civil rights of people of color. Dr. King was married to Coretta Scott King with whom he had four children, Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice. He attended Morehouse College (BA), Crozer Theological Seminary (BDiv), and Boston University (PhD). In 1964, Dr. King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.

Listen to and Watch Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
The Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963, is where Dr. King presented his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. Hearing the speech in it entirety as opposed to an excerpt is a moving experience. After listening to and watching the speech, you can discuss the text in full; compare the issues Dr. King presented in 1963 and see how relevant they are today; and memorize a favorite excerpt from the speech and work on penmanship by writing that favorite excerpt.

Visit the National Civil Rights Museum.
The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is offering free admission on Monday, January 16, 2023. The King: A Legacy Remembered learning links provide more information about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the museum.