I heard a report on the radio this morning about The King Center, which lead me to the Martin Luther King Research and Education Institute’s Liberation Curriculum. There are lesson plans and speeches. King was such a dynamic speaker! You can listen to an excerpt of I Have Been to the Mountaintop, King’s last speech.
And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out, or what would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers.
Well, I don’t know what will happen now; we’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop; and I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life – longevity has it’s place. But I’m not concerned with that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And so I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; Im not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
Teaching is an act of faith. Of hope. Of healing. King was a teacher. It’s amazing that we can still hear him. Listen. There’s a good article about why kids need to learn about Dr. King, posted at History is Elementary.
updated: see Schools Matter: Losing Black History, All History.
Sarah Puglisi has some book recommendations for celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday.
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My brother and I visited the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change when I was residing in Augusta, GA. Atlanta is about a 2.5 hour car trip on the interstate from Augusta. Anyway, we found the experience to be very moving and inspirational. We toured MLK’s boyhood home, and the neighborhood in which he spent his youth. We weren’t able to go inside Ebenezer Church, as it was being renovated, and a new edifice was being erected directly across the street. I have, however, been inside the original Ebenezer Baptist Church. A friend of mine and I attended an MLK program. It’s a wonderful old church. I also met several members of the King family, including Coretta, Dexter, Yolanda and Bernice.
Even kindergarten students are emotionally touched and intellectually intrigued by MLK Jr. Students in New Mexico two years ago especially were…entranced. Some of their comments after listening to his ENTIRE “I Have a Dream” speech stay with me still:
“Teacher, I like that man. He looks big, and he has a strong voice, but he’s not mean.”
“Mrs. Sommerville, he said I could go to school with my friends, didn’t he?”
“I like his dream teacher, I like his dream.”
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