Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2021
Black citizens walking during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 18th) celebrates the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement and advocate against racial inequality.
His activism and organization efforts contributed to tremendous progress in the fight for civil rights through events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, many nonviolent marches and revolutionary speeches - including the iconic "I have a dream." Dr. King is known for his commitment to nonviolent resistance, despite the risk of arrest and white supremacist attacks.
Educational resources to engage with
MLK Day is a federal holiday in the US and is often observed with church services, a rededication to commitments to racial equality efforts, community service and education. Many strive to educate themselves on the Civil Rights Movement, influential spokespeople and trail-blazers in the fight against racial discrimination, and Dr. King's journey and contributions. Read on for great educational resources to engage with online this MLK Day.
Dr. Bernice King speaking to an audience.
Dr. King's work and the continuation of his legacy
If you're seeking to learn more about Dr. King's work, the King Institute at Stanford University has made several speech transcripts, published and unpublished writings available. You can access them for free through this archive or by purchasing The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr, a seven-volume edition.
The institute also offers a free online course taught by Dr. Clayborne Carson - Martin Luther King, Jr. Centennial Professor of History at Stanford, on Dr. King's work. Dr. Bernice A. King, Dr. King’s daughter and CEO of The King Center, continues the work for equity and social change while integrating her father’s philosophy for nonviolence and love for community. You can keep up with her on Twitter and watch her speak on BLM and interpretations of her father’s work here.
Video and audio recordings of speeches
You can find audio and transcripts from Dr. King's speeches at the American Archive of Public Broadcasting through online queries. Additionally, several organized lists exist with recordings available through Soundcloud and YouTube.
Multimedia resources/Media representation
Today, there are many multimedia representations (both educational and interpretational) available on Dr. King's work, civil rights, and Black American racial identities. A few great examples of storytelling in these topics include:
Selma: Directed by Ava DuVernay (2014)
This film portrays Dr. King's leadership in the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, for securing voting rights. This march contributed to the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Available on Netflix
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975: Directed by Göran Olsson (2011)
This documentary unearths footage from the Black Power movement taken by Swedish journalists who traveled to the U.S. in the late 1960s. The film features recorded interviews from activists such as Angela Davis, Eldridge Cleaver, Stokely Carmichael and Bobby Steale, along with images, commentary, and music from Black artists and activists.
Available on Prime Video and for free on Kanopy
Just Mercy: Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (2019)
Just Mercy portrays how defense attorney Bryan Stevenson works to prevent the wrongful conviction of Walter MacMillian for murder in 1987. The film highlights racial discrimination within the criminal justice system and mass incarceration.
Available on Prime Video
This Discussion guide features conversation topics and material relevant to the film.
Between the World and Me: By Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)
Prolific writer Ta-Nehisi Coates shares experiences, thoughts and sentiments related to racial injustice and being a Black American in the form of a letter to his son.
For a range of topics on Dr. King and other impactful civil rights leaders, the World House Podcast also provides insightful conversation between Dr. Clayborne Carson and Dr. Mira Foster of the King Institute in an easily consumable format. There are also virtual tours available for the National Civil Rights Museum, which features Dr. King’s journey, boycott stories, the march to Selma, the Freedom Rides of 1961 and other important civil rights events.
People holding up posters and participating in a MLK Day parade.
Celebrating in the age of the pandemic
In past years, MLK Day has been celebrated in more interactive settings through parades, community get-togethers, public talks, and more. Known as a national day of service, community service activities in the form of volunteerism in areas such as food assistance, education, health-related drives and career success are often participated in for the occasion.
These activities serve to honour Dr. King's community-centric contributions and efforts. In 2021 with the presence of the pandemic leading to restrictions, it may seem challenging to celebrate MLK Day to its full extent. However, organizations like AmeriCorps are providing resources this year, along with examples of safe and virtual forms of service such as in this webinar. Other events and celebrations are also moving online for accessibility. Here are a few ways to participate in MLK Day in 2021:
Support organizations that empower Black communities
This list provides a range of organizations that focus on anti-racism, education, LGBTQ+ initiatives, wrongful convictions and more.
Also, check out our list of anti-racist organizations to support.
Make an effort to educate yourself on the relevance and historical context of MLK Day
Take some time out of your day to learn about the Civil Rights Movement and acknowledge the journey and efforts of countless Black leaders. There are a lot of Civil Rights resources available online, such as this resource guide from the Library of Congress and this educational video playlist by American Experience PBS.
Start a community service project or find a volunteer opportunity through Engage!
If you're interested in starting a community service project, registering your organization with Engage is an effective way to find volunteers and support.
It's also a great way of locating an initiative to participate in, the majority of which are remote.
Participate in a virtual event
Support artists and creators by attending an online event!
University Circle Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: This project involves Infinite Hope - A free performance involving spoken-word, dance and song by Karamu House, and presentations by The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland History Center and Cleveland Museum of Art.
Many of this year’s MLK Day parades will also be broadcasted virtually with recordings from performers.
The King Center has a range of events during the week leading up to MLK Day.
Universities such as Western Michigan and MSSU are also holding MLK Day events.
This MLK Day, the opportunity to continue learning and exposing ourselves to experiences and new perspectives is still present. Despite the limits of the pandemic, there are still countless ways to support communities and celebrate the journey and progress of civil rights.