Martin Luther King, Jr. has long been included within many schools’ curriculum for his perseverance against racism and standing up for civil rights. We are taught at an early age of the significance of peaceful protests and how effective it was during the civil rights movement. King’s impact is still felt within our schools. Students throughout the nation protest for different reasons and do so in a manner that reflects the methods used in the 1960s. They protest by peacefully marching through campuses or living spaces, harming nobody to make their voices heard.

King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in 1963, paved the way for an integrated and inclusive future. He made it possible for us to have a space where people of all different colors, cultures, and backgrounds can work and learn together while admiring one another’s differences. If it were not for pioneers such as King, our modern-day campuses would not be what they are today. Students throughout campuses are familiar with his speeches and letters such as the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” which showcases his fearless and resistant soul.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. federal holiday that occurs each year on the third Monday of January, usually falling on or near King’s actual birthday of January 15th. Also referred to as MLK Day, this day allows us as Americans to remember the sacrifices that were made to create a better future for us. The civil rights activists fought during a time where they could be harmed and/or killed for voicing their opinions about equality. Leaders like King spoke profoundly and walked valiantly throughout the streets in the United States of America, all the way to the streets of Washington, so the frustrations of the citizens could be heard around the world.

Take a moment on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year to remember the turmoil that Americans faced prior to gaining civil rights, the resilience they demonstrated, and how our lives have changed because of it.

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