remembering the Civil Rights leader in 2022

On the third Monday in January we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to mark the date of his birth, January 15, 1929. The movement to make it a federal holiday (confirmed 1986) was a long and difficult process. This day has been a state holiday in Pennsylvania since 1978. An important factor in advancing the legislation was the public support and outcry of African-American politicians and celebrities. Today, many participate in the observance as a day of service to honor King’s legacy of non-violence and interfaith activism to celebrate how he has changed the course of American history- “because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice”.

An activist, advocate, minister, theologian, and Nobel Peace Prize winner– so many descriptors could be chosen to describe King’s life– but few words or phrases can truly capture the magnanimity of what he accomplished and how he inspired others. When reflecting upon what to write about the history of the holiday, the trajectory of Civil Rights movement, and King’s life, the sentiment that stuck in my mind was the words of another- specifically Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

“But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

Martin Luther King was not only an inspirational person whose life was tragically cut short upon his assassination in 1968– but an icon, a movement, and a theology. Therefore MLK Day is many things to many people, the memorial of someone lost to history and a community, a celebration of changing the world for the better, and a promise to continue his work.

So many of my formative experiences as an African-American I put into the perspective of “is this what Dr. King was about?” But his legacy isn’t about always needing the perfect, historically accurate answer to that question so much as it is the imperative to ask.

As a library assistant, I could fill this blog with facts, figures, and any assortment of research material relevant to Martin Luther King Jr’s accomplishments. But instead, I’m choosing a fun anecdote. Many sources claim that his favorite gospel song was Mahalia Jackson’s version of Precious Lord, Take My Hand. So I will share in this post Aretha Franklin’s version, as it is my personal favorite.

Looking for Digital Library Resources?

Journals

Databases

• Gale in Context: Biography and Gale In Context: U.S. History
• Religion and the Law and Civil Rights and Social Justice from HeinOnline
• Open Access Digital Theological Library (OADTL)
• Criminal Justice and LegalTrac from GALE OneFile

Selections from the Stacks

From the Children’s Section

From the Social Justice Collection

In Need of Some Primary Sources?

Available through Eastern

• The March on Washington, 1963 and Black Empowerment Collection from ATLA Digital Library
• Martin Luther King, Jr. channel from Alexander Street Press

On the web

• The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collection from the Smithsonian Institute
• The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change from The Civil Rights Digital Library

Current Resources

At Eastern

• MLK Day Reflection: The Fierce Urgency of Now

In Philadelphia

• Things to Do for Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend in Greater Philadelphia 2022

Locally and Virtually

• Restoring Hope & Dignity: MLK Service Day (Online and In-person)
• Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service