Martin Luther King, Jr. is a radical hero that should be remembered for his ethcial challenge to the American government/people:
In this excerpt from Shambhala magazine Charles Johnson reveals The King We Need.
Earl Ofari Hutchison at AlterNet examines how many local government agenices still ignore this national Holiday for a Hero.
Martin Luther King was a pacifist in that he preached change through non-violent protest, but he was not "passive" when confronted with the need to address injustice and oppression. His words were an active rallying cry for a re-vision of the United States of America... now that he has a holiday, streets, and schools named for him it is easy to forget how he, and other strong souls, fearlessly spoke truth to power:
Film: Honor the Legacy
One of the better articles attempting to realize Martin Luther King's "truth force":
Dr. King: The Remix
And from Cornel West (thanks to Ray Garraud for pointing this essay out):
Prisoners of Hope
Events in Lexington, KY honoring the birthday of Marting Luther King, Jr.:
Lexington -- Carnegie Center -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The Carnegie Center hosts a public reading of essays by 4th and 5th grade students from Harrison Elementary School. The topic will be "I Have a Dream for My Community." Through a program set up by the Carnegie Center, the elementary students are being mentored by Bryan Station High School students. The event is open to the public and will take place at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, 251 W. Second St. at 1:30pm. A reception will follow the program.
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held in downtown Lexington on Monday, Jan. 17. The Freedom March will begin at 10 a.m., with lineup beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Heritage Hall. Following the march, a program will be held in Heritage Hall honoring King's legacy. The keynote speaker for that event will be Michael Eric Dyson, nationally renowned scholar, speaker and author, and the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. If special accommodations are needed by attendees of the march or program, please contact Terry Allen at 257-8927 or tallen@uky.edu.
3 comments:
My five-year old son has really been asking me a lot of "why" and "what is real" questions lately. We've discussed the Tooth Fairy to God and evolution. (tooth fairy and santa are still real with special magic since he knows magic is a fun illusion). Anyway, just this past weekend we discussed MLK. The funny thing with kids, at least my 5 year old, is you never know what sinks in and what doesn't. But I find through repetition, it does, especially conceptual information. This morning when we woke, he said to me "today is martin luther king day. It's sad that bad guy shot him when he was just trying to say everyone is the same on the inside." I love my son. =)
Susanne,
You are so lucky--you must be learning a lot from your son. Why do we lose that childhood orientation toward questions and clear, concise insight into meanings? Your son is also very lucky to have such loving, involved parents!
I noticed in your profile that you listed one of my favorite YA books "Ender's Game".
Happy MLK day!
I think because most people don't want to challenge or re-evaluate themselves. It's easier to do what's easy, than change or learn.
The Ender's series of books were great, with some better than others. Ender's Game is the best, and Ender's Shadow would be my 2nd. It's the story of Bean. They are making Ender's Game into a movie now I believe. Another great YA book is "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok.
We had a great MLK day snuggled up at home during the downpour. The boys had no school.
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