True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.
Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
Today, the third Monday of January, January 18th, marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day and honors the life and accomplishments of Dr. King. In the face of oppression, he never gave up in the country that he called home. The celebration of this day reminds us that the fight is not over, and we must advocate for equal rights and opportunities of all racial ethnic groups alike. MLK Day symbolizes progress and unity, for together, our actions will spark change and hope for the future. Through the history of Martin Luther King Jr., we need to realize that we have suffered through times of trials and tribulations and have emerged victorious.
On this day, I want to encourage all of you to pursue some sort of act that will honor his name safely and hygienically. Whether it be from sending a letter to your representative to petition for a new Voting Rights Act or participating in webinars like University of Michigan’s Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium, I want you to help someone today.
Some examples that I took from https://bideninaugural.org/day-of-service/ are
- creating cards for patients recovering from COVID-19
- letter writing to seniors in nursing homes/having a conversation with the elderly
- knitting blankets for the homeless
- donating blood/bone marrow (especially since Black and African American patients are among the least likely to find a match for bone marrow (only a 23% chance!))
Also, please try to learn about Coretta Scott King, MLK’s wife. She was the architect of the King Legacy and founder of the King Center. To learn more about her, please visit this site!
