JD Finish Line commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021

Monday January 18, 2021, marks the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday first observed nationally in 1986.

The holiday celebrates the life and accomplishments of Dr. King, among the most influential civil rights leaders in American history.

He fought against segregation and for racial equality in the United States and pushed for the passage of the groundbreaking Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, but his legacy as an activist and his fight for equal rights for people of color in America continue to this day.

On Monday, our weekly Community Voices program will host a discussion with Dr. Calinda M. Lee, Head of Programs and Exhibitions at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia.

And for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we have a special second Community Voices episode featuring Charlamagne Tha God.

“The function of education is to teach one to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As part of JD | Finish Line’s commitment to act against racism, bigotry, hate and violence, we choose to honor Dr. King’s memory in an educational manner. 

Below you will find resources on the history and significance of MLK Day and how you can commemorate the holiday.

— The National Center for Civil and Human Rights

— The Stanford University King Institute’s King Encyclopedia 

— Freedom’s Ring: Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, animated

— Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Advice For Living” column in Ebony magazine

— The King Center’s 6 Principles of Nonviolence

— We Are Memphis: Remembering Dr. King, 50 Years On

— The National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ Equal Dignity at Work workplace diversity programs

— The National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ educational programs

— Unfinished Business: Would Martin Luther King be satisfied with the pace of progress? (KQED)

— MLK talks ‘new phase’ of civil rights struggle, 11 months before his assassination (NBC News)

— NBA coaches reflect on what it means to play on MLK Day (The Undefeated)

— Martin Luther King Jr. led civil rights movement, but millions of everyday folks had to follow (The Undefeated)

— Teaching the Movement’s Most Iconic Figure (Teaching Hard History podcast)

— Virtual tour of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home

— Eyes on the Prize, a documentary on America’s civil rights movement (PBS)