Martin Luther King’s Day is remembered each January, but goes far beyond something we only look back on once a year. Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence and guidance is something we take with us each day, reminding us that we have the power to speak out for what we believe in.
King was a reverend at the Ebenezer Baptist Church and is most well known for his activism in marches for equal voting rights, fair education, and fair employment. In 1955, King made a stance leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which started the rise of his societal and national influence. Martin Luther King Day was established as a federal holiday in 1983 after President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law. This day honors the legacy of how hard he worked to spread his message and the influence he spread to encourage other people to fight for justice, equality, and respect. Today, people are still advocating for what they believe in and standing up for their human rights, emphasizing their fight for justice and freedom of speech.
On King’s journey, he spread the message and movement to end segregation in the South, invigorating and energizing each city to stand up for what they believe in. King eventually traveled to New Orleans, and met up with other civil rights leaders to discuss their movements and strategies for the Civil Rights Movement while having a bowl of authentic New Orleans gumbo, according to Nola.com. King would meet these leaders at a restaurant called Dooky Chase’s. Today in New Orleans, the legacy of King continues to flourish and live throughout the city to help emphasize the importance of justice and unity. For example, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which was founded by King and other civil rights leaders in January 1957, was created to advocate for political justice and free speech. His vision and inspiration remains grounded in today’s society proving it’s possible to unit and march for what you believe in.
Loyola will host an MLK interfaith celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Ignatius. Featuring keynote speaker Cherrell Simms Taplin, this event aims to “commemorate King’s legacy and those who live it.”
The Loyola University Community Action Program will be hosting an art event on MLK day at 3 p.m. in the Saint Charles room, in hopes to “create a beloved community,” said Loyola’s Office of Student Affairs. There will also be a MLK JR. Moments of Meditation with resident ministers hosted on Jan. 20 at 5:30pm focused on King’s 6 principles of nonviolence. This will be spread out on campus in 6 different locations emphasizing the 6 principles, hosted in the Res Quad, Peace Quad, Palm Court, Marquette Horseshoe, Dixon Court, and the Greenville lawn.
