On January 18, our nation will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or MLK Day. This holiday commemorates the life of the Southern minister, Nobel laureate, and key leader of our nation’s civil rights movement. As a parent of a small child, you may be at a loss as to how to introduce King’s legacy to your daughter or son. You may be wondering, “Is this relevant?” “How much should I say?” or “How should I discuss a topic such as race relations or the civil rights movement?” with a preschool or school-age child. The discussion might seem “too heavy” for a young child to understand.
"Mommy, how come their skin isn't like mine?"
Here are key points to emphasize when talking with young children about Dr. King's life:
- MLK was a minister from Atlanta, Georgia.
- He had a dream that life would be fair for all people and that all people could achieve their dreams.
- King won a famous and important award for being a peacemaker (Nobel Prize).
For older children, you could emphasize these points:
- President Ronald Reagan signed a law to establish a holiday to recognize King’s work in 1983.
- Share King’s famous 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech. In that speech, King spoke not only as a leader, but also as a parent: “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
- MLK talked about equality and freedom for all people, and he promoted the use of nonviolence to achieve these goals, which extend beyond our nation and abroad.
- In 1994, the US Congress designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of national community service. You and your family may choose to identify a local community service project held on MLK Day.
This year, communities, families, and individuals across the country will use this day to remember Martin Luther King Jr.
They will celebrate what the movement meant for all Americans in a variety of ways. Mothers and families can seize this holiday as an opportunity to either introduce MLK and his dream to a world where diversity is embraced and valued, or to continue the dialogue that has already begun.
Here are ways for you to expose your child to MLK’s dream on MLK Day and throughout the year. (Keep in mind potential closures due to COVID-19.)
- Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in your community
- Visit The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta
- Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, DC
- Books that are age-appropriate about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, by Reagan Miller; A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David A. Adler; Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo, J. Pinkney
