Celebrate MLK Day

"I have a dream that my four little 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."   
~Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.
 
The life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968) remain beacons for those who seek freedom, peace, equality and justice. A powerful and eloquent speaker and author, he galvanized innumerable people to join the Civil Rights Movement and in 1963 led a peaceful march of over 250,000 in Washington, D.C., where he delivered his famous address, "I Have a Dream." Visit The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change for information about the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of "I Have a Dream." A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35 due to his philosophy and promotion of nonviolent action, Dr. King's memory and legacy continue to inspire countless individuals.


The Library has many books about Dr. King (visit our displays on the first and second floors) and you can also learn about him by visiting INSPIRE, a virtual library for Indiana residents. INSPIRE is an enormous collection of resources, including magazine and journal articles, websites, pamphlets, images, almanacs and more. It's a treasure trove of information available 24-hours a day, which is handy when you have to write a paper. One of the databases included in INSPIRE is "Gale Biography in Context," which contains authoritative, up-to-date biographies of over 525,000 individuals.


Make it a day on, not a day off.
The MLK Day of Service, occurring every year on the third Monday of January, is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service, a "day on, not a day off." It's part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service in which Americans from all walks of life work together to strengthen communities and create solutions to problems, moving everyone closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."

You can find projects to help with by entering your zip code in the "Find a Project" page. While MLK Day is this upcoming Monday, January 21st, many opportunities to join with your neighbors to help your community and attend events honoring Dr. King will start this weekend. One such event is the Peace Learning Center 15th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Festival. Music, art, family activities, theater, poetry and more will be part of the festivities, and Peace Learning Center will present the "Power of Peace Award" to an individual or individuals who have made a significant positive impact on the City of Indianapolis.


Celebrate the life and message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with your family, friends and community today, tomorrow and every day.



Image: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering "I Have a Dream" at the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963. Public domain, ARC Identifier 542069 / Local Identifier 306-SSM-4D(107)16.