How to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day

Technically, the holiday is scheduled for the third Monday of January, but this year’s Martin Luther King Day witnesses a happy coincidence: it’s observed on King’s actual birthday, January 15. Here are some ways to commemmorate the life of this great civil rights leader, who would have been 78 years old on his special day.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Gospel Tapes Or CDs
• Southern Cookbooks

1. Read up on King’s life. If you don’t have the time to read a biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., you can at least go on the web to gather the pertinent historical facts: his protest against the Montgomery, Alabama bus laws in 1955; his March on Washington in 1963; his assassination in 1968. For extra credit, brush up on Henry David Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience,” which inspired the Reverend in his non-violent civil rights campaign.
2. Go to church. Martin Luther King’s faith helped him persevere through hard times, and if the man were alive today, he’d probably be delighted if everyone attended a place of worship in his honor. Check your local church to see if it’s having a special MLK service, and if you have any kids, bring them along for at least a couple of hours (odds are they’ll learn more about Martin Luther King here than they ever did in school).
3. Watch a documentary about the civil rights movement. If you have cable, the chances are that at least a few channels will feature special programming about Martin Luther King, Jr.—including documentaries about his life and about the civil rights movement in general. Once again, round up your kids, and let them see for themselves why this is an important holiday.
4. Throw a party. Serve Southern food, play some old-time gospel music and have fun. A birthday, even of someone who lived to see somber and tragic times, is always a cause for celebration.
5. Be respectful. Even today—over 20 years after the government approved the date—there are people who believe that Martin Luther King Day is somehow not a “real” holiday. Not only can this be construed as racist, but it doesn’t even make sense; it’s not as if the official “Holiday Book” was permanently closed a century ago. Go to work anyway, if you prefer, or go shopping, but don’t denigrate the occasion (and especially don’t do so in front of your kids).