Today, Student Voice honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Now more than ever, we believe it is critical to elevate Dr. King’s story and the continued persistence of racial injustice in our country. As we face attacks on honest and uncensored history in our schools, including bans on teaching ‘Critical Race Theory’ and books written by Black authors, Dr. King’s words ring true—we must not let our schools “become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda.” 

Student Voice will celebrate Dr. King by renewing our fight for racially equitable resources and curricula in schools. We remember Dr. King’s vision that “complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.” We are reminded that the fight for equitable education is inextricable from the fight for racial and social justice. We seek to honor Dr. King’s work today and every day.

Resources for Teaching & Learning:

• Read "The Purpose of Education,” an article by Dr. King in the Morehouse College newspaper describing the moral function of education (The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute)
• Join or support the work of Black and brown student organizers fighting for equitable COVID-19 safety measures in their schools (New York, Chicago, Oakland, Seattle, Philadelphia, Boston)
• Join or support organizers supporting uncensored history education and anti-racist schooling across the country in Dr. King’s name (Tennessee, Wisconsin, Washington state)
• Join or support the Poor People’s Campaign, the organization formed on Dr. King’s call for a “revolution of values,” and their work on COVID-19 health inequity and voting rights 
• Join or support the NAACP’s current call-to-action on voting rights
• Join or support a local Black-led organization fighting for racial and social justice through mutual aid, education, or other community-based tactics
• Listen to Dr. King’s granddaughter and student organizer Yolanda Renee King on ‘Critical Race Theory,’ voting rights and Dr. King’s legacy (NPR)
• Watch the DuSable Museum of African American History’s free virtual King Day Celebration, hosted on their website from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT (DuSable Museum of African American History)
• Use the Do's and Don'ts of Celebrating MLK Day, a guide for educators containing display, curriculum and discussion ideas to honor Dr. King (Learning for Justice)
• Use the Teaching and Learning About Martin Luther King Jr. With The New York Times resource list, including tools to teach about anti-Black racism year-round and a historical archive of articles about Dr. King (The New York Times Learning Network)‍
• Use Teaching a More Complete Picture of MLK, resources for teaching Dr. King’s complete vision for racial and social justice (Smithsonian Education)