Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday in the United States that is observed on the third Monday of January each year. The holiday was established to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who played a key role in the American civil rights movement.
King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the son of a Baptist minister and grew up in a middle-class family. As a young man, King was deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and the principles of non-violent resistance. He became involved in the civil rights movement while studying at Morehouse College and later earned a Ph.D. in theology from Boston University.
King’s activism and leadership were crucial in the efforts to end segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the United States. He worked tirelessly to promote civil rights and equality, and his powerful speeches and non-violent protests helped to bring about significant changes in laws and attitudes towards race in America.
Despite facing significant challenges and dangers, King remained committed to his cause. He was arrested numerous times and was even the target of assassination attempts. However, he refused to be discouraged and continued to fight for justice and equality.
On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had gone to support a strike by sanitation workers. His death sent shockwaves around the world and sparked widespread outrage and grief.
In the years following King’s death, there were efforts to establish a national holiday to honor his memory. In 1979, a bill was introduced in Congress to create a holiday honoring King, but it was not signed into law until 1986. The holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986, and was later moved to the third Monday of January as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Listed here are a few of the local events honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
The Civil Rights Collection
Ongoing
The Civil Rights Collection at the Nashville Public Library features black and white photos from the Civil Rights era in Nashville and a circular table in the center of the room representing the lunch counters of Nashville locations of many sit-in protests that fueled the Civil Rights Movement.
IMF Celebration
The annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration hosted by the Interdenominational Misters Fellowship (IMF) will take place through January 16. This year’s theme is ‘Protecting the Dream: Confronting the Assaults.’ The keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a globally renowned scholar of race, religion and contemporary culture. Dyson is currently a professor at Vanderbilt University where he holds the Centennial Chair and serves as University Distinguished Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies in the College of Arts and Science and University Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Society in the Divinity School.
Activities include:
Labor/Human Rights Breakfast – Friday, Jan 13, 8 am, Scarritt Bennett Center – Laskey Hall, 1027, 18th Ave. S.
Fair Housing Discussion – Friday, Jan 13, 5-7 pm, First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, 900 Nelson Merry Street
Youth Symposium – Saturday, Jan 14, 9 am-1:30 pm, Scarritt Bennett Center – Laskey Hall, 1027, 8th Ave. S.
Women of Faith Panel – Sunday, Jan 15, 4 pm, Scarritt Bennett Center – Harambee Auditorium, 1027, 18th Ave. S.
Youth Book Drive – Monday, Jan 16, 7 am-2 pm,, Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2708 Jefferson St.
Youth Rally – Monday, Jan 16, 8-9 am, Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2708 Jefferson St.
March from Jefferson Street to TSU Gentry Center – Monday, Jan 16, 9 am, Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2708 Jefferson St.
Convocation – Monday, Jan 16, 10 am, TSU Gentry Complex, 3645 Dr. Walter S. Davis Blvd.
MLK Day of Service
Volunteers from Belmont, Fisk, Lipscomb, Meharry, Nashville State, Tennessee State University, Trevecca, Vanderbilt and other area colleges and universities will join in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering together. This year, Rev. Dr. James Lawson will kick-off the programming at the Cal Turner Family Center on Meharry Medical College’s campus.
Let Freedom Sing
The Nashville Symphony’s annual Let Freedom Sing concert honors the life, legacy, and triumphs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement. This free annual celebration will be Monday, January 16, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and features classical works and popular songs that affirm equal rights and social justice.
MLK Commemorative Event
Vanderbilt University’s Martin Luther Kin, Jr. Commemorative Series was established in 1985. Commemorating King’s life and legacy, the university community gathers annually on this national holiday for a series of programs, including participation in the city-wide march, community service, educational forums, and lectures. In honoring King, Vanderbilt University affirms its own commitment to the goals of peace and racial justice to which King dedicated his life.
The keynote speaker is Byron Pitts, Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and co-host of ABC’s Nightline.
MLK Week Chapel ‘Infinite Hope’ with Dr. Kevin Cosby
On January 18, at 10 am in Belmont’s JAAC Chapel, Dr. Kevin Cosby will speak about how we can have ‘infinite hope,’ a concept pioneered by Dr. King amidst the reality of oppression and injustice. Dr. Cosby is president of Simmons College of Kentucky, author of five books, and for over three decades has been pastor of the 15,000-member St. Stephen Baptist Church, the largest African American church and the largest private employer of African Americans in Kentucky.
