Dr. King. Image Courtesy: The King Center.
Sto-Rox School District today honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a preeminent figure in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Our schools are closed in observance of this federal holiday, and people are encouraged to participate in a day of service.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate of achieving racial equality through non-violence. From The King Center’s biography of Dr. King: ”While others were advocating for freedom by ‘any means necessary,’ including violence, Martin Luther King, Jr. used the power of words and acts of nonviolent resistance, such as protests, grassroots organizing, and civil disobedience to achieve seemingly-impossible goals.”
Dr. King was at forefront of the Civil Rights Movement, serving as spokesman for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and leading the March For Jobs And Freedom, where he delivered his indelible “I Have A Dream” speech. Unfortunately, Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. However, his dream continues to live on through today’s civil rights leaders and those who wish to carry on his towering legacy.
In the Sto-Rox School District, teachers incorporate Dr. King-related activities into their social studies lessons as this time of year. At the Upper Elementary, students are focusing on a research project for Black History Month (February) ahead of the annual Black History Celebration. Projects will start toward the end of January and parents will be invited to see the finalized projects.
To learn more about Dr. King and his contributions, go to The King Center’s website.