I have a dream: Martin Luther King Jr Day

“Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

Martin Luther King, Jr was a Baptist minister who used his voice to speak up for the silenced. He was the most influential of African American civil rights leaders during the 1960s and one of the most influential activists of all time. He advocated for the use of nonviolent means to end racial segregation and famously led 250,000 people in a civil protest during the 1963 March on Washington.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

King took the brave step towards equality by sharing his wisdom and guiding the public towards a world of peace and love. It’s because of him that we have many of the regulations we have today surrounding equality including the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. 

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

There are few things more remarkable than King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. His words remain as relevant and inspiring today as they were when he lived. He left us with many guiding words of wisdom before he was maliciously assassinated on April 4, 1968. Before his untimely death, he was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace and commended for his devotion to helping form a respectful, diverse community.

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

MLK led us in the first step towards social change, but we still have a long way to go to achieve the dream he so famously described 90 years ago. If you want to get involved, here are a few ways you can continue to carry out his vision.

Organize (or participate in) a Giving March to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans and call for an end to racism.

• Attend a local MLK parade, watch a documentary, or read a book with the children in your life. Teach them about history to improve our future.
• Donate to a charity. There are a ton of charities to choose from, so find one that resonates with you. Consider The King Center,  the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, or National Black Women’s Justice Institute.
• Shop black-owned brands. Take a look at NY Magazine’s list of 180 Black-Owned Businesses to shop products in beauty, fashion, fitness, and other novelties. 
• Volunteer or engage in other local service opportunities.
• Plant a tree as a symbol of growth. 

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