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 5
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Which of these is a statement of opinion?
Acts of kindness on MLK Day have increased in number and variety throughout the country.
Writing letters of kindness to neighbors is one example of how people can give back on MLK Day.
Serving on MLK Day is best suited for adults, who manage time more efficiently than young people do.
People can serve on MLK Day in various ways, including acting individually or with an organized group.
1 answer
The statement of opinion among the options provided is:
"Serving on MLK Day is best suited for adults, who manage time more efficiently than young people do."
This statement expresses a subjective viewpoint about adults and young people, rather than stating a fact that can be supported with evidence. The other statements either present facts or examples of participation without expressing a personal belief or judgment.
1 answer
9 answers
3 answers
1 answer