The Fierce Urgency of Now: Building Bridges of Department of Administrative Services Justice, Equality, Mike DeWine, Governor Jon Husted, Lt. Governor Matt Damschroder, Director and Unity Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission 2021 Calendar Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Dear Reader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led with a fierce urgency to bring change and build understanding. His enduring hope for a better tomorrow is fitting today as we enter 2021 and emerge from a year of uncertainty and change. The theme of this year’s calendar – The Fierce Urgency of Now: Building Bridges of Justice, Equality, and Unity – captures his legacy of acting today to bring a better tomorrow. Inspired by the recent loss of Congressman John Lewis and Cordy Tindell Vivian, as well as the historic recent events calling for social justice, this year’s calendar features civil rights leaders and icons whose fearless resolve in the face of intolerance continue to inspire us today. Their wise words are moving today as we carry on Dr. King’s pursuit of nonviolent change through positive activism in our communities. Typically, this calendar showcases outstanding Ohio youth who competed in the Statewide MLK Oratorical Contest. However, the 2020 contest was canceled due to the pandemic. We look forward to resuming this wonderful tradition of highlighting exceptional Ohio students who share Dr. King’s oratorical gifts in the future. For information about becoming involved with the oratorical contest, please visit our website at das.ohio.gov/mlk. Thank you for your support of the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission as we strive to carry out Dr. King's dream of serving others, eliminating discrimination, and embracing diversity. Respectfully, McKinley Brown, Chair David Jehnsen Rev. Joel L. King, Jr., Vice Chair Jeffrey L. Johnson Napoleon A. Bell II Will Lucas Paul M. Booth Elizabeth Blount McCormick Kacy Bullard Christina Rodriguez Senator Hearcel F. Craig Tracey Winbush Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Members Chair Vice Chair Napoleon A. Bell II Paul M. Booth McKinley Brown Rev. Joel L. King, Jr. Columbus Cincinnati Cincinnati Gahanna Kacy Bullard Senator David Jehnsen Jeffrey L. Johnson Will Lucas Columbus Hearcel F. Craig Galena New Albany Toledo Columbus Elizabeth Blount Christina Rodriguez Tracey Winbush McCormick Toledo Youngstown Columbus To learn more about the MLK Holiday Commission, visit das.ohio.gov/mlk. January 2021 Janvier - Enero December 2020 February 2021 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S INSPIRATIONAL 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 LEADERS 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 28 “There will be no SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY quiet or peace in this land until justice and equality cover the United States of America as 3 4 5 the water covers the seas.” ~ Rev. Ralph Abernathy Abernathy (1926-1990) was a Baptist minister and civil 10 11 12 rights leader who joined Dr. King to organize the Montgomery bus boycotts. He also co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. 17 18 19 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 24 25 26 31 1976 • January 14 – The King Center dedicates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have A Dream" speech, August 28, 1963 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 New Year’s Day Seventh Day of Kwanzaa Imani (Faith) National Mentoring Month begins 6 7 8 9 Epiphany Orthodox Christmas 13 14 15 16 You’re invited to the 36th annual Ohio Dr. Martin Dr. Robert C. Weaver becomes first Black Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration. nominated to serve on a U.S. Presidential This year’s event will be held virtually and can Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born in Atlanta, Ga. Cabinet (Secretary of HUD) (1966) be viewed at das.ohio.gov/mlk. (1929) 20 21 22 23 Colin Powell appointed U.S. Secretary of State by President George W. Bush. He becomes the first African American to serve in the post. (2001) 27 28 29 30 Mohandas Gandhi assassinated in New Delhi, India (1948) The Kings’ third child, Dexter Scott, born in Atlanta, Ga. (1961) Coretta Scott King passes away International Holocaust Remembrance Day at age 78 (2006) February 2021 Février - Febrero January 2021 March 2021 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S INSPIRATIONAL 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 LEADERS 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 31 Courage, after SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY all, is not being unafraid, but 1 2 doing what needs to be done Black History Month begins Groundhog Day in spite of fear.” National Freedom Day First Civil Rights Act Passes (1866) ~ James L. Farmer, Jr. 7 8 9 Farmer (1920-1999) was a devotee of Ghandi’s nonviolent strategies and leader of the Congress for Racial Equality. While at Wiley College, he joined the team of “great debaters,” 14 15 16 which was coached by legendary teacher Melvin Tolson, known for inspiring generations of students to stand up for equal rights. Shrove Tuesday He organized the historic Valentine’s Day Presidents’ Day Mardi Gras Freedom Rides of 1961 and received the Presidential 21 22 23 Medal of Freedom in 1968. Malcom X, leader of the Organization of Afro-American Unity and former Black Muslim George Washington born in leader, assassinated in New York City (1965) Westmoreland County, Va. (1732) 28 1957 • February 14 – Dr. King establishes the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to fight for civil rights and against segregation. He is elected the group’s first president. "Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From a rare handwritten letter he penned in the mid-1960s WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 3 4 5 6 Rosa Parks Day 15th Amendment giving African American (California and Missouri observance) men the right to vote ratified (1870) Rosa Parks born in Tuskegee, Ala. (1913) National Wear Red Day 10 11 12 13 Chinese New Year Abraham Lincoln born in Hardin County, Ky. (1809) NAACP founded (1909) 17 18 19 20 Ash Wednesday (Lent begins) 24 25 26 27 Purim begins at sundown Purim March 2021 Mars - Marzo February 2021 April 2021 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S INSPIRATIONAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 LEADERS 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 28 25 26 27 28 29 30 “A spirit of SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY harmony can only survive 1 2 if each of us remembers, when bitterness Women’s History Month begins Read Across America Day and self-interest 7 8 9 seem to prevail, that we share International Women’s Day a common Harriet Tubman born in “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Ala. (1965) Dorchester County, Md. (1820) destiny.” ~ Barbara Jordan 14 15 16 Jordan (1936-1996) was a lawyer and educator who was the first African American woman elected Daylight Saving Time begins to the Texas Senate in 1966. There, she helped pass the 21 22 23 state's first law on minimum wage and create the Texas Fair Employment Practices Commission. She later served in the U.S. House of Selma-to-Montgomery Freedom March, Representatives and earned led by Dr. King, begins (1965) the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. 28 29 30 Palm Sunday Passover Passover Lailat al Bara’ah Lent ends The King’s fourth child, Bernice Albertine, born in Atlanta, Ga. (1963) National Vietnam War Veterans Day Passover 1968 • March 28 – Dr. King leads 6,000 protesters on a march through downtown Memphis, Tenn., in support of striking sanitation workers. "Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love ... violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, December 10, 1964 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 3 4 5 6 U.S. Supreme Court rules against citizenship for African Americans (1857) 10 11 12 13 Lailat al Miraj 17 18 19 20 St. Patrick’s Day Spring begins 24 25 26 27 Passover begins at sundown Civil Rights activist Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery passes away at age 98 (2020) 31 Passover César Chávez born in San Luis, Ariz. (1927) April 2021 Avril - Abril March 2021 May 2021 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S INSPIRATIONAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 LEADERS 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 “My story is a SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY freedom song of struggle.