When I was in high school Martin Luther King Day became a national holiday.
Before that transition, his birthday was celebrated by a school assembly where a local Baptist preacher gave a rousing rendition of his iconic I Have a Dream speech. The rest of the day involved reading about civil rights, writing about them, and having spirited class discussions about the current state of race relations in America.
Now it is a three day weekend, made four by many school districts tacking a Teacher Planning Day to bookend the weekend.
It’s a shame that what was originally a move to recognize the indelible mark Martin Luther King Jr. left on his nation has become just another opportunity to get away. It would be much better if this were a special curriculum day which would truly honor the life of that great man by continuing his work.
Not all is lost.
Max leapt out of his breakfast chair this morning to make Martin Luther King a birthday card. It was completely unprompted. He knows that holidays are important and have meanings. He knows a bit about Martin Luther King from his teacher and me. Both boys wanted to hear his speech, so we watched it together. Much of it is over their kindergarten and preschool heads.
Why did he say we should go to jail together? Jail is for bad guys.
It’s a tricky concept to navigate, standing up for injustice. Last year his teacher read him a book about Rosa Parks and Max came home and informed me, Black people are supposed to ride on the back of the bus. I had to enlist his teacher’s help to explain that Rosa Parks was right because the rule was unfair. He wouldn’t believe me. Most of what little people learn is that they must follow the rules.
Civil disobedience is a complicated idea for a little mind to absorb. That’s exactly why it needs to be taught over and over again. Each layer penetrates a new level of understanding.
Here is the video, the entire 17 minute speech. It’s worth a pause to sit and let those familiar words wash over you. You can google free Martin Luther King coloring pages too, if you have little ones.
We’ve come so far, it would be a shame to stop now that the dream is within reach.
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