Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated across our nation to honor one of the most influential and iconic leaders of the civil rights movement. “The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership.”  Coretta Scott King

Image by John Hain, Pixabay

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Teach civil rights in January and year-round –  Check out these amazing resources and civil rights learning projects for your classroom.

LOC Search – Martin Luther King, Jr. and Today in History, January 15th

LOC Civil Rights Primary Source Sets

NEA Classroom Resources for MLK Day  Lesson Plans, Activities & Other Resources for K-5, 6-8, 9-12

African American Perspectives gives a panoramic and eclectic review of African American history and culture and is primarily comprised of two collections in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division: the African American Pamphlet Collection and the Daniel A.P. Murray Collection with a date range of 1822 through 1909.

Civil Rights Digital Library promotes an enhanced understanding of the Movement by helping users discover primary sources and other educational materials from libraries, archives, museums, public broadcasters, and others on a national scale.

Teaching Tolerance  Do’s and don’ts of celebrating MLK Day

Stanford’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute assembles and disseminates comprehensive resources about King’s life and the movements he inspired.

Teaching American History Martin Luther King, Jr. leading online resource of history for educators and students.

Teaching American History Civil Rights Toolkit starts in the 19th Century, viewing the Civil Rights movement as a generational one providing a broader perspective on the ideas and people at the foundation of this work to achieve “a more perfect union” for all Americans.

LearnOut Loud  – 35 Speeches Marin Luther King, Jr.

Smithsonian Videos – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The holiday must be substantive as well as symbolic.    It must be more than a day of celebration . . . Let this holiday be a day of reflection, a day of teaching nonviolent philosophy and strategy, a day of getting involved in nonviolent action for social and economic progress.”   Coretta Scott King