Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Remembering Dr. King - Why? How?

During this third week of January 2009, we both celebrate history and witness history in the making. On Monday, we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – remembering the contributions of the civil rights leader. In his most famous speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., King spoke of his dream – a dream of racial equality. He spoke at a time when African Americans suffered indignities such as being refused service in restaurants, being forced to ride in the back of public buses, to drink from black only water fountains, and much more. While our country has made great strides in the areas of race relations and racial equality, few can deny that racism still exist – in some areas of the country more than others.

It’s fitting around this time of year to reflect on MLK’s life and work. One question that we often ask is whether or not his dream has been realized. Have we come far enough? Have the barriers to racial equality been torn down sufficiently enough? If King was alive today (he would be 81-years-old this year), would he be satisfied with the progress that has been made? Has King’s dream been realized?

Is it important that we set aside a day to remember the work of Dr. King? What is the best way to commemorate his life? As students, as a school, should we be doing something to remember King and educate the youth of today about his impact on our nation's history?

What do you think? Avoid simple answers. Give me real thought. Read the comments of those posting before you. Come back after you post, and continue to keep up with additional posts until the deadline. I want a real conversation. Invite your parents to read the blog, and they can even comment. Enjoy!

Note: I'm including King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

9 comments:

Brayson S. said...

I think that school's around the nation should keep teaching about MLK and how he impacted the nation's history. He is still remembered by one day of January every year and that shirts are still made with his face on it with the words I have a dream. I think it's important to remember him because if we don't the future generations won't know who helped free African American's. He is also remembered by pictures in houses and museums.

Grayson S. said...

I also think schools in the U.S. should keep teaching on ML. King, because what if teachers stop teaching about him. Racism my pick up again in the U.S. M.L. Kings life would have been taken away for nothing and so would all his efforts to cure racism that would also have been for nothing.

Maranda F. said...

I agree with brayson because if he didnt make that "I have a dream" speech then we probably wouldnt be where we are today , we probably wouldnt have the freedome we have today he has made a big impacked on all of our nations lives.On January the 18 we all should have stop just for at least 10 minutes to think about Martin Luther King jr.!

Megan K. said...

I think that schools should keep MLK day, because it teaches everybody about racial discrimination, and how it is wrong to judge somebody by the color of their skin. It is still being remembered by having parade's in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King himself, and also there are bags and shirts with his name, saying " I Have A Dream."

Unknown said...

i agree with brayson because he's the one who impacted the way the coloreds got treated. He was the one who took a stand and helped the coloreds get back up to being treated like there equal and have just as many rights as the whites, and i also think that we shouldn't forget him because he's one of the few people tat has impacted the whole world and it's people.

Alexis H. said...

we should remember king bc he did giv all men freedom like it says in the constition. it says that all men hav equal rights but african americans didnt they were slaves for quite a while then king helped them out with the washington march. they nmow hav freedom lik every other american. we should "remember him for freeing slaves" (think bad or good of that make what u want of it)we should hav every school in the us once a year and wach his video and do activites on him

Unknown said...

I agree with brayson because we should all learn more and more about Dr. King because that part of history is very important to not only kids but people arond the world. I like that we ahve a parade in tallahassee to represent and remember him as saying " I have a dream" those words will never be forgotten.

Unknown said...

i beleive what mlk did was a right thing to do and it is a big part of history. his legendary speach i have a dream was very inspiring and moving which made people beleive that there is still faith in this world.

James said...

we should remember king bc he did giv all men freedom like it says in the constition. it says that all men hav equal rights but african americans didnt they were slaves for quite a while then king helped them out with the washington march. they nmow hav freedom lik every other american. we should "remember him for freeing slaves" (think bad or good of that make what u want of it)we should hav every school in the us once a year and wach his video and do activites on him