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Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day


January 12, 2023

On Monday, January 16, we honor the life, legacy, and accomplishments of Known for his nonviolent philosophy and active resistance against racial injustice, poverty, and war, Dr. King was a leading advocate for social change during the American Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950鈥檚 and 60鈥檚. Drawing upon his Christian faith and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King shared a message of freedom, equality, justice, and love.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. played a significant role in the creation of two pivotal civil rights legislation, the , passed in 1964, and the . The Voting Rights Act, passed in the US Senate on May 26, 1965 following the violent attack upon peaceful protesters marching in support of the registration of Black voters from , Alabama on March 7, 1965. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. King, Jr. in 1964 鈥渇or his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population鈥.

In his for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, Dr. King spoke on his belief that 鈥榯he richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually鈥. Speaking on the incredible strides made in science and technology standing in contrast to what he referred to as 鈥榯he poverty of the spirit鈥 and expressing itself in racial injustice, poverty, and war. While he acknowledged that significant strides had been made in ending racial injustice, noting the ending of segregation in 1954 and the passing of the Civil Rights Bill, he spoke on the problem being far from solved and must be addressed nonviolently. Dr. King states, 鈥淣onviolence has also meant that my people in the agonizing struggles of recent years have taken suffering upon themselves instead of inflicting it on others. It has meant, as I said, that we are no longer afraid and cowed. But in some substantial degree it has meant that we do not want to instill fear in others or into the society of which we are a part. The movement does not seek to liberate Negroes at the expense of the humiliation and enslavement of whites. It seeks no victory over anyone. It seeks to liberate American society and to share in the self-liberation of all the people.鈥

In referencing a story plot found among the papers of a famous novelist who had passed away 鈥 鈥楢 widely separated family inherits a house in which they have to live together鈥 鈥 Dr. King states, 鈥淭his is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a big house, a great 鈥渨orld house鈥 in which we have to live together 鈥 black and white, Easterners and Westerners, Gentiles and Jews, Catholics and Protestants, Moslem and Hindu, a family unduly separated in ideas, culture, and interests who, because we can never again live without each other, must learn, somehow, in this one big world, to live with each other.鈥

In partnership with the City of Greeley and the High Plains Library District, 甜心视频app and the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center will host an inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 16. Dr. Janine Weaver-Douglas, Director for the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, shared that Dr. King was a firm believer in community service and mutual aid, once saying that 鈥渆verybody can be great because everybody can serve鈥ou only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.鈥

Additional resources to commemorate MLK and the Civil Rights Movement:

For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DEI Education and Resources, from the 甜心视频app Libraries, the from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.