It was freezing that day. Literally. My husband and I had flown up to Northern VA to spend Christmas with my family and made plans to spend the day doing the tourist thing in DC. My dad was our tour guide, leading us to some of his favorite places downtown: the White House, International Monetary Fund Headquarters, WWII Memorial, Natural History Museum, and a ton of things in between. Having grown up in the DC Metro area, I’d been to many of these places before. But the place that impacted me the most on that particular trip, that made the miles of preggo waddling and frigid wind chill worth it, was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
It was powerful and stunning, like the force that he was.
He accomplished much in his short life, which was taken from him when he was fatally shot in Memphis, TN, at the young age of 39. In a span of only of only 14 years, he used his influence to lead the fight for civil rights legislation and equality for African-Americans at the local, state, and federal levels. And though his life was so painfully cut short, the legacy of his dream continues to inspire hope and call for change in our society… for true freedom for every American.
The Reverend Dr. King in Miami
Over the course of the civil rights movement (1954-1968), Martin Luther King spent a lot of time in Miami. In fact, I recently learned that he gave an early version of his iconic I Have a Dream speech in at the Historic Hampton House in 1960, where the who’s who of Black entertainers, influencers, and athletes stayed during segregation in Miami. I asked a friend of ours whose family ran the restaurant at the Hampton House if his parents knew Dr. King. His mother described him as having a presence and a seriousness about him, that he was known primarily as a reverend, and also shared memories of his ability to cut loose and laugh with friends during his many stays there.
MLK Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which falls on the third Monday of January, is an annual federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. King. And though it’s always a good time to discuss who Dr. King and his dream, it’s an especially meaningful time to engage our children in discussions of his vision and what he fought for, and involve them in local opportunities to serve. Here’s a list of some of the local MLK events taking place this year:
I Have a Dream: Music From the African-American Tradition (Jan 15-20) Join Seraphic Fire for a concert celebrating the rich history of African-American Spirituals. Dates, times, and locations vary.
YMCA MLK Inspirational Luncheon (Jan 18) The YMCA will be hosting an inspirational luncheon at the American Airlines Arena at 11:30am, featuring keynote speaker Xernona Clayton, who worked with Dr. King at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
MLK Day of Service at Arcola Lakes Park (Jan 19) Join other local volunteers in this unique opportunity to serve our community. The event will run from 9am until noon, with check-in beginning at 8:30am. Visit their website for details, and to register for this unique community service event.
36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 5K Run & Walk (Jan 21) Beginning at 8am at the Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. Metrorail Station, this annual 5K benefits the children of the Miami-Dade Police Youth Explorers. Entry fees are $25/adults and $15/youth 14 and under.
42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade (Jan 21) In 1977, Miami made history when it became the first city in the U.S. to host an MLK Day Parade! Beginning at 11am, the parade will take place along 54th Street, from 10th to 32nd Avenue in Liberty City. This family event will feature marching bands, fire trucks, classic cars, dance teams, representatives from local churches and civic groups, and much more. The parade will also be broadcast as an hour-long special on WLRN.
MLK Family Festival (Jan 21) Several local organizations, in cooperation with the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department, will host this annual family festival from 12-5pm at MLK Memorial Park. The festival, a celebration of African and Caribbean heritage, will feature live music, a children’s village with activities tailored for children ages 5-14, a marketplace of local artisans, and a food corner featuring soul food, Louisiana Creole dishes, and traditional dishes from Africa and the Caribbean!
15th Annual YMCA MLK Day of Service (Jan 21) Get involved with this unique opportunity to serve in the Village of Allapattah! Participants at this event will partner together to clean up the streets around the YMCA Family Center. This event will run from 9am until 1pm, and registration is required.
City Year Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (Jan 21) Partner with City Year to serve the teachers and students of Madison Middle School. Registration begins at 8am until projects wrap-up at 1pm. Click on the link above for details, and to register.
Talking With Our Children
It can be challenging to discuss difficult aspects of our history with our children. But it is also necessary. Here are a few books I’ve found to be useful in helping my young children understand who Dr. King was and the significance of his dream:
I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; paintings by Kadir Nelson
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson; illustrated by Frank Morrison
A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson; illustrated by Eric Velasquez
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
