10 Ways To Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day may feel different this year than it did in the past. Whether you had a wake-up call of the racial injustices that occur in our country after the murder of George Floyd, you marched this summer with Black Lives Matter, or you simply had additional opportunities to reflect as you spent more time at home due to Covid, there’s no time like the present to recommit to racial justice and anti-racism.

Here are ten ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy on MLK Day (January 18, 2020) and any other day of the year:

1. Read a book about MLK’s life

   • Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr.

   • The Speech by Gary Younge

   • Martin Luther King, Jr., a life by Marshall Frady

   • My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. by Coretta Scott King

   • March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

   • Black Theology & Black Power by James H Cone

   If you purchase a book, do so through an independently and black owned book store.

2. Donate to Black Lives Matter, Black Girls Code, NAACP, ACLU or another organization that supports black communities

3. Volunteer at a local food bank or homeless shelter

4. Plan a trip to visit the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis or the National Museum of African American History in DC once it’s safe to travel

5. Engage with the National Museum of African American History online:

   • Virtual Exhibitions 

   • Open Access - Online Collections

6. Attend a virtual MLK Day Celebration 

7. Parents: Talk to your kids about race—I love this article on the subject & these Anti-Racist Book Recommendations for Teens & Kids

8. Find a way to volunteer virtually, check out these Strength Through Service Campaigns for ideas

9. White people*: use this as a time to work on your allyship. Think about how you can be a better ally to the Black community. Read about how to be a great ally at work here.

10. White people*: recognize your privilege. White privilege doesn’t mean you haven’t struggled, it simply means your life hasn’t been harder because of your race. Check out this Privilege Walk that addresses all kinds of privilege.  

The commitment to racial justice and anti-racism is a lifelong one. Pick an activity (or many) to complete this year. What ways will you celebrate MLK?

*This work can also apply to non-Black people of color, however during this time it is especially important for white people to do this work.