This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurred on Monday, January 19—very close to King’s actual birthday. This federal holiday is always observed across the country on the third Monday of January.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist who led the movement to end racial segregation. He promoted peaceful methods of activism, such as the March on Washington, ultimately leading to his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King was born into a Baptist family, with both his father and grandfather working as preachers. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where he received education surrounded by a large family. However, as segregation grew in prominence in the South, it greatly affected King, even from a young age. It changed who he could spend time with on the playground and how others treated him at as early as six years old.
After a summer job opportunity brought him to Connecticut, King came to understand that more peaceful relationships across racial lines were possible. This experience further deepened his hatred for segregation in the South. King then attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, a liberal arts college historically for black men, where he studied both medicine and law. King later attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, where his nonviolent philosophy continued to grow. From there, he attended Boston University to further his theological and ethical studies.
King’s work is still honored widley today. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established after 15 years of advocating, and it is the only federal holiday observed as a day of service. It is a way to take King’s teachings and channel them into action. His messages of peace and justice were very powerful during his lifetime, and continue to be important today. This holiday is more than just a day off of school or work, but it encourages all people to improve their own communities and address present-day social issues. It also provides an opportunity to educate others on social justice and racial equality, and is a way to continue to fight those battles as Dr. King did.
In Boston and surrounding areas, many events in which take place to honor Dr. King. There are many opportunities to get involved near Concord Academy, such as a tribute concert at the Boston Symphony Hall and a day of service and learning in Cambridge, offering a way to continue his legacy and teachings in the modern day. Having access to these great service opportunities allows students and faculty members to spend this day off improving their communities and learning more about King’s legacy.