On the third Monday of January, public schools in the United States close and many offices shutter in observance of one of the nation's federal holidays—Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day. This occasion gives millions of Americans the opportunity to spend the day honoring the life and work of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by volunteering in their communities. Together, citizens of all ages answer the call to carry Dr. King's dream of justice and equality into the future by serving others.

Question

Carrying On the Dream

On August 28, 1963, at the apotheosis of his talents as an orator, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to present his vision of the future. In a speech titled "I Have a Dream," Dr. King envisaged a nation in which all people—regardless of race, ethnic background, social class, or religion—could live side by side as equals. Sadly, Dr. King was assassinated in April 1968, at just 39 years of age. Shortly after, those who had worked alongside Dr. King began advocating for a national holiday to commemorate his life and work.

It would take 15 years, innumerable petitions, and a hit song by Stevie Wonder to effectuate this national observance, but in 1983, Congress passed the King Holiday Bill with bipartisan support. Though designated a federal holiday, several states initially refused to honor MLK Day, and many Americans viewed it with insouciance. To counter this, U.S. Representative John Lewis and Senator Harris Wofford, both civil rights activists themselves, began calling on Americans to celebrate Dr. King's ideals with a day of service—dubbing it "a day on, not a day off."

A Day to Serve

In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, making MLK Day both a federal holiday and a National Day of Service. "The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive," Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, remarked, "is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others."

Each year, more and more people participate, with activities now taking place in all 50 states. Projects run the gamut from delivering meals to senior citizens and assembling hygiene kits for local homeless shelters to building beds for kids transitioning out of shelters and cleaning up community spaces such as public parks.

What Will You Do?

Taking part in MLK Day is not just for adults—it's open to anyone willing to give back. As Dr. King once said, "Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve…. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love."

There are lots of ways that students can participate in MLK Day. Many community organizations across the U.S. open their doors to volunteers of all ages, including pet shelters, food pantries, parks departments, and senior centers. In past years, students have packed duffel bags for children entering foster care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, helped assemble meal kits in Raleigh, North Carolina, written letters of kindness to neighbors in Olympia, Washington, and painted school-approved messages of encouragement on school walls in Kansas City, Missouri.

You don't even have to leave home to give back on MLK Day—there are many ways to pitch in wherever you are! Consider shoveling snow or doing yardwork for a neighbor, sending a card of thanks to your teachers, creating your own piece of art honoring Dr. King's life and work, or even picking up litter along your street.

By making MLK Day a day of service, countless citizens are seeking to continue the leader's dream of justice for all and heeding his asseveration that "life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'"

Think about and discuss these questions:
What evidence from the article supports the idea that there are many ways to participate in MLK Day?
How can you give back to your community on MLK Day? What volunteer opportunities would you like to participate in?
Question 2


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The article states:

In past years, students have packed duffel bags for children entering foster care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, helped assemble meal kits in Raleigh, North Carolina, written letters of kindness to neighbors in Olympia, Washington, and painted school-approved messages of encouragement on school walls in Kansas City, Missouri.

The author's purpose for writing this passage was to __________.

suggest that individual acts of kindness are more beneficial than organized acts
reinforce the importance of learning how to write and format a letter correctly
explain that writing on school walls is only permissible with school approval
emphasize the positive physical and emotional impact of acts of service

Answer 1

The author's purpose for writing this passage was to emphasize the positive physical and emotional impact of acts of service. The examples given highlight a variety of ways individuals, particularly students, can contribute to their communities in meaningful ways, illustrating the spirit of service on MLK Day and the broader implications of giving back.