How to Commemorate the Death of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. The assassination precipitated riots in cities all over the nation. At his funeral a recording was played of a sermon he had given weeks earlier in which he requested that there be no mention of his awards and honors, but just but that he had tried to "feed the hungry," "clothe the naked" and "love and serve humanity".

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Commemorate The Death Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Reflect on the meaning of the life and death Martin Luther King, Jr. His birthday has become a national holiday marked by celebrations and service projects in communities throughout the world, but his death was a terribly trying time for the entire nation.
2. Make a pilgrimage, an expedition that need not be long but should be meaningful, to a place that you associate with Dr. King's life, death, or legacy. This could be a formal memorial, a place in your community that was a center of rage following his assassination or a natural setting where you can reflect on the values and legacy that he passed on to millions.
3. Dedicate your participation in an April 4 service project or public action for social justice to commemorate the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Each step that one takes to keep his legacy alive redeems his death.
4. Listen to Dr. King's last speech at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute--Liberation Curriculum website (see Resources below). This speech, called "I've Been To The Mountaintop," was delivered in Memphis less than 24 hours before his death at a rally of black sanitary public works employees, represented by AFSCME Local 1733, who had been on strike since March 12 for higher wages and better treatment.
5. Commemorate the day by listening to the "Beyond Vietnam" address that Dr. King gave on April 4, 1967, exactly one year before his death, to clergy and laymen concerned about Vietnam at the Riverside Church (see Resources below). Although Dr. King's life is most often associated with his leadership on domestic civil rights issues, he was a powerful voice for nonviolence and against war.

Tips & Warnings

• Bringing the legacy of Dr. King into one's life cannot be limited to a single day each year, whether that day is King's birth date holiday or the anniversary of his death. Consider taking the activities with which you mark these dates and extending them throughout the year.