Celebrating Martin Luther King
February is Black History Month, and with that comes many opportunities to discuss with your children the often difficult subjects of slavery, the civil rights movement, the black experience in North America and racism that still exists today, despite our best efforts to eradicate it. Over the course of the month, I will be posting on many of these topics, but today I want to explore and celebrate the words of Martin Luther King Junior.
Martin Luther King Jr. was both a man of his time and a man who shaped his time. He was a pastor, an eloquent speaker, a leader and a passionate believer in equality for all people. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, at the age of 35, he dedicated his prize to furthering the civil rights movement in the United States.
As paren'ts, we are often searching for ways of introducing complex subjects and ideas to our children in ways that they can appreciate them and understand the issues at their level. Picture books and archival information are a perfect way to explore the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr. with your child(ren).
Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport is a wonderful introduction to Martin Luther King Jr. for the very young. A simple picture book with an immense impact, the book uses collage and the speeches and writings of Martin Luther King Jr. to paint the picture of the times and experiences of his life. It both sets the context of the time and demonstrates Martin Luther King's non-violent response to those times.
Perhaps the most famous speech ever delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. was delivered on August 28th, 1963. I Have a Dream was delivered to thousands as the culmination of the march on Washington. The book celebrating this speech is a glorious rendition of the words spoken that day. It evokes both the hope and despair that was the reality of the times. The 15 pictures are rendered by many of the leading African-American illustrators of the times and exquisitely depict the context and meaning of his words. Corretta Scott King has written the forward of this fantastic book. And once you have had time to read the book and talk with your child(ren), take advantage of the wealth of resources on the internet and watch the actual speech as it was delivered.
There are many other books to enjoy with your child(ren) that celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. including two books written by his sister, Christine King Farris. My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers and March On!: The Day My Brother Changed the World are worthy of a look.
Isaac Newton wrote, "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Martin Luther King Jr. is one of those giants. His teachings and example have shaped the world we live in and it is worth taking the time to reflect on all that he has contributed to our lives today. It seems to me that Black History Month is the perfect time for such a reflection.
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