January 20 Holiday Honoring the Birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Following are some suggestions for observing King’s birthday in schools, congregations and communities, where we need to plant the needs of social change. Some require a lot of preparation time; others can be incorporated into ongoing programs. You will have ideas of your own to develop.

SCHOOLS

A few public elementary and secondary schools hold observances on Martin Luther King’s birthday but for many students and teachers it is just a welcome "day off." The radical aspects of King’s life are rarely discussed. How many school children (or teachers, for that matter,) know that he was a pacifist, that he went to jail for-his beliefs, and that he favored unilateral disarmament. We can use the anniversary of King’s birth as an opportunity to schedule speakers in social studies classes or at assemblies. Possible topics would be:

This book and many others about Martin Luther King, Jr. are available from the FOR Bookstore on this web site. Click here for a listing.

M.L. King and Nonviolence Today, Social Justice: King’s Unfinished Dream, M.L. King and the Arms Race. Provide literature; point out concrete connections between King’s work and the issues facing our communities/our world today. Invite teachers and students to become actively involved in these issues outside of the classroom.

CHURCHES, MOSQUES AND SYNAGOGUES

Many black congregations traditionally hold observances for Martin Luther King in January. Plan a program jointly with them. Find out what is being planned in churches and synagogues in your area. Where there are no plans suggest that King’s birthday be an occasion for a sermon about him and his work. Arrange for discussions in religious education classes. Begin an ongoing study group of adults and young people to read and discuss writings by and about King. Hold a pot luck supper, perhaps with other churches and/or peace and justice groups. Feature a speaker, film, and music.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Plan a "walk and sing" procession, stopping at places where people are being oppressed or that are symbols of oppression (e.g. jail, welfare office, tax office,)or at churches and synagogues where celebrations of King are going on. Have short readings and a song at each stop. Carry candles (weather permitting, of course!)

Hold a vigil or demonstration at a site (e.g. federal building, military base, prison) that would emphasize our concerns that were also King’s concerns. This could be expanded into a rally with speakers on the problems of poverty, unemployment and militarism-issues that were the focus of King’s work toward the end of his life. Make links with local and national groups and coalitions that are working on these problems. Suggest that your local FOR, church, or community group give its own MLK Peace Award to an individual who has actively carried out King’s vision in your area. Ask your newspaper editor to cover the event. Write a letter to the editor.

CAMPUS

Talk to the campus ministry about holding a special observance or a MLK birthday party" which would feature a simple meatless meal, music, and meditation. Find out what the Black Student Union or other minority student groups are planning and offer to co-sponsor activities with them. Suggest that professors in sociology, political science and philosophy courses discuss King in their classes during the week of January 15. Hold an evening program at the Student Union with speakers from on or off campus and/or a film showing. Talk to the editor of the campus newspaper about writing an article about King. Do the same at the campus radio station. They might broadcast his "I Have A Dream" speech (available/public libraries) and do a call-in or interview show on the relevance of King’s work today.