Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo – pasadenamlk.com).
The Covid-19 pandemic is dramatically impacting the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday this year.
By Chasity Jennings-Nuñez
Now more than ever, events require us to remember the incredible sacrifice, impact and legacy he created in the 39 years he lived. His commitment to securing basic civil rights protections for all members of our nation, regardless of their race, creed, or gender is as relevant and necessary now as it has ever been.
Dr. King’s campaigns against poverty, his fight to remove the barriers that disenfranchise non-White citizens and his focus on equity in education as a path out of poverty are, unfortunately, the same battles that are being fought today.
There are many ways to honor the memory and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
- Join the California African American Museum (CAAM) for their annual MLK Day Celebration. This a virtual event.
- Pasadena MLK Community Coalition invites you to enjoy students’ essays and art at the 2021Virtual MLK Celebration.
- LA Works is offering virtual workshops and education on race and the criminal justice system, homelessness and food insecurity. A virtual Minecraft March on Washington is a great way to involve young activists in the celebration of Dr. King.
- Organizations such as Step Up, PATH, local churches that provide homeless outreach, homeless shelters like Union Station Homeless Services, and agencies that help foster youth like Together We Rise are always in need of help. Contact them to ask about donating hygiene kits, school supplies, or other items. Cash donations are always the most helpful.
- Choose MLK Day to start to become an anti- racist. Accept the challenge and take the responsibility to educate yourself on what that means.
- Even with the Covid-19 pandemic, there are still safe opportunities to volunteer your time, skills and energy. So many youth need homework help and mentoring that can be done virtually. Check on an elderly neighbor or family that may be dealing with a loss. There are adopt-a-meal programs, senior meals on wheels opportunities, and opportunities to use your expertise in technology, social media, etc to help local non-profits. Volunteer Match is a good place to start for ideas.
- King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” is his most famous, but there are many more inspiring speeches and sermons recorded. A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a great anthology. Consider an audiobook to hear Dr. King orate the speeches himself.
Traditionally, MLK Day is a day of service to others. Find an opportunity to make a positive contribution, learn more about the fight for equity and access, and celebrate the contributions of Dr. King and others who continue the work towards his dream.
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