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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Day of Service

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Day of Service Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Day of Service Background Information, Lesson Plans, and Internet Resources for the Secondary Classroom “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Strength to Love, 1963 Miami Dade County Public Schools Department of Social Sciences January 2017 (Revised) THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, Chair Dr. Marta Pérez, Vice Chair Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall Ms. Susie V. Castillo Dr. Steve Gallon III Ms. Perla Tabares Hantman Dr. Martin Karp Ms. Lubby Navarro Ms. Mari Tere Rojas Sebastian M. Lorenzo Student Advisor Mr. Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Maria L. Izquierdo, Chief Academic Officer Office of Academics and Transformation Ms. Lissette M. Alves, Assistant Superintendent Division of Academics Mr. Robert C. Brazofsky, Executive Director Department of Social Sciences The History of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Day of Service Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an official holiday which has been celebrated on the third Monday of January since 1986. It is the first new holiday adopted in the United States since 1948, when Memorial Day was created as a “prayer for peace” day. It was one of three new holidays designated during the twentieth century, including Veteran’s Day, created as Armistice Day in 1926. Dr. King is the only American besides George Washington to have a national holiday designated for his birthday (those of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee and others have been celebrated in some states but not nationwide). Internationally, Dr. King is one of the few social leaders of any country to be honored with a holiday. Generally, such an honor is reserved for military or religious figures. Consequently, this holiday is a powerful tribute to Dr. King’s philosophy and nature. When President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation establishing the holiday in November of 1983, it marked the end of a persistent, highly organized lobbying effort spanning the nation for 15 years. Representative John Conyers (D., Michigan), first introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. The bill became stalled in that legislative session. With help from New York Democratic Representative Shirley Chisholm, Conyers resubmitted the legislation in each subsequent legislative session. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) coordinated a petition drive, which resulted in more than six million signatures being submitted to Congress in 1970. Public support and pressure for the holiday increased during the 1982 and 1983 civil rights marches in Washington, D. C. Finally, a compromise was proposed, moving the holiday from January 15 (Dr. King’s actual birthday), to the third Monday in January, resulting in Congress passing the holiday legislation in 1983. President Ronald Reagan then signed it into law. The King Holiday is celebrated in some form in more than 100 countries throughout the world. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off." The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions. An Instructional Note to Teachers Each year, on the third Monday in January, the nation observes the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Day of Service. The holiday and day of service commemorate the enduring vision and legacy of Dr. King to our nation and the world. To assist schools, staff in the Department of Social Sciences has developed this instructional resource guide that includes background information, suggested classroom activities, and Internet resources on the life and legacy of Dr. King. The resources in this instructional resource guide include: • BACKGROUND INFORMATION - This section of the guide includes detailed background and reference information on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • LESSONS, ACTIVITIES, AND STRATEGIES FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS - This section of the guide includes detailed primary and intermediate lesson plans with all support materials needed to teach about the life and contributions of Dr. King. • INTERNET RESOURCES - Related lesson plans, teacher background information, interactive activities, and downloadable worksheets may be found on the web sites listed in this section of the guide. • SECONDARY CHARACTER EDUCATION RESOURCES – Additional lesson ideas are included in this section of the guide to support the core value of “pursuit of excellence,” which has been designated by the District for the month of February. Teachers are highly encouraged to utilize the resources and lessons found in this instructional resource guide to reinforce the contributions of Dr. King, whenever appropriate throughout the school year. Teachers are further encouraged to select and adapt the resources and lessons to best fit the needs of their students. Background Information • Getting Involved - The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service • Biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • Dr. King’s Achievements • Timeline of Events in the Life of Dr. King • Civil Rights Timeline - Milestones in the Modern Civil Rights Movement • Memorable Quotes by Dr. King • Text of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech • The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington, D.C. • Photographs of Dr. King Getting Involved - The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Monday, January 16, 2017 will mark the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. This milestone is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. Explore the following website to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and how you can participate in the Day of Service. http://www.nationalservice.gov/MLKDay What is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service? After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off." The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. Why Serve on the Day of Service? Dr. King believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by applying the principles of nonviolence to make this country a better place to live - creating the Beloved Community. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions. How can I serve on MLK Day? People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can get involved. To find a service opportunity, click on Volunteer Now at http://www.nationalservice.gov/MLKDay and follow the prompts. Source: http://www.nationalservice.gov/MLKDay Biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vital figure of the modern era. His lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. The movements and marches he led brought significant changes in the fabric of American life through his courage and selfless devotion. This devotion gave direction to thirteen years of civil rights activities. His charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in this nation and around the world. Dr. King’s concept of “somebodiness,” which symbolized the celebration of human worth and the conquest of subjugation, gave black and poor people hope and a sense of dignity. His philosophy of nonviolent direct action, and his strategies for rational and non- destructive social change, galvanized the conscience of this nation and reordered its priorities. His wisdom, his words, his actions, his commitment, and his dream for a new way of life are intertwined with the American experience. Birth and Family Martin Luther King, Jr. was born at noon on Tuesday, January 15, 1929 at the family home, 501 Auburn Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Charles Johnson was the attending physician. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the first son and second child born to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr.
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