Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Learn About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is the ideal time to get a bit more educated about the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For those who are bookworms, there are hundreds of books about Martin Luther King Jr, revealing the ways he accomplished what he set out to do, how his efforts were sometimes thwarted or interrupted, and how his legacy still lives on for people today.

Others might want to visit a museum to learn more about what King accomplished in his life through educational and interactive exhibits.

Many Civil Rights museums offer special discounts or even free admission in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Try out the exhibits at some of these American museums to learn more:

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel

Located in Memphis, Tennessee and an affiliate of the Smithsonian museums, this important space was built around the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It became a museum in 1991 and has been growing and changing to include important artifacts and educational opportunities ever since.

Those who can’t visit in person can take advantage of the online virtual tours that are available.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

This fairly new museum opened in the city of Jackson in 2017. Installations require visitors to face the names of all of the lynching victims in Mississippi as well as other important topics such as the Jim Crow laws, slavery and the Civil War, and the Delta Blues.

Dallas Civil Rights Museum

Founded in 2014, this Texas museum focuses on topics that are important to freedom-dreamers and change-makers, such as the Underground Railroad and the Trail of Tears. Many exhibits are particularly related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

International Slavery Museum

This important feature of Liverpool, England’s Albert Dock area focuses on the important history of transatlantic slave trade.

The museum, which is part of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, houses one building which, in 2012, was renamed to be called the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Building. The facility includes educational spaces, research facilities, a family history center, theater and collections center.

Watch the “I Have a Dream” Speech

Undoubtedly Dr. King’s most famous speech, the “I Have a Dream” speech was given on August 28, 1963 to a crowd of 250,000 gathered around the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

This speech had a direct influence on the US government’s willingness to take action toward racial equality. A copy of the speech can be found at the National Archives at New York City and it can be watched for free on YouTube.

Start Conversations About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Participating in this important day will be even more valuable when it is shared with others in the surrounding community.

Whether coming into contact with neighbors and inviting them to attend an event or having an important conversation with coworkers or family members over lunch or dinner, this day should be honored.

Here are a few interesting facts to keep in mind during conversations about the events of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life:

• When King attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, Pennsylvania, he was one of only 11 black students. King was elected class president in his third year at the school and graduated as valedictorian.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest person at the time to have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, at the age of only 35. The prize came with more $50,000 which he donated to the Civil Rights movement.
• King is the only person who never served as president to have a federal holiday named in honor of him, and he’s the only non-president with a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
• An amazingly bright student, King was so talented that he skipped both 9th and 12th grades, allowing him to begin attending college at the age of only 15. He enrolled in Morehouse College in 1944 to study sociology and, upon graduating, he became ordained as a Baptist minister just as his father and grandfather had both been.

Create Activities for Kids

An important way to keep history from repeating itself in a negative manner is by raising children to think of the world in a new way.

Teaching them about important people who changed the world, such as Dr. King, is a good way to get them involved and inspired to make the world a better place themselves.

Making crafts, coloring pages, writing letters or speeches and other activities are important ways to get kids actively involved in the day.