“The time is always right to do what’s right.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It’s easy to find inspiration when you look at the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Almost 52 years after his assassination in 1968, he is remembered as an outstanding activist, wordsmith, and leader in the civil rights movement.

He grew up in a home full of love and was shocked upon hearing that he couldn’t go to the same school as his best friend just because he was black and his friend was white.

He knew it was wrong and he knew many other things were wrong, such as having to move to a ‘negro section ‘ of the shoe store to buy shoes, and the way elevators were marked, with signs declaring, “White Only.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. saw his father resist these injustices by not supporting segregated businesses and later decided to become a minister and work for racial justice. And that he did!

From the time Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat, which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott he helped organize, to the days of his many protests, books, articles, and speeches, to the time be became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he had indeed made an impact on not just racial justice, but on society as a whole, for his desire and commitment to fight for what was right with dignity, wisdom, and grace.

His 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech provided words of wisdom we can all still learn from. The issues he marched for, including racial violence, ending poverty, social welfare, desegregation, and voting affect students and adults today.

He has taught us not to be bystanders who watch history happen but instead to go out and welcome the opportunity to fight for change and ensure social justice.

We need to share the work and words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with students to help them find their own voice and to let them be aware that they are in control of their own future.

Kids today will decide what injustices our nation will allow to continue.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had perseverance that should be an example to all of us. He knew it would take more than one speech or one march to bring change, but he worked conscientiously to influence change over time.

This is something educators and parents need to do on a daily basis. We know it won’t take one lesson, one day, or even one year to make an impact on the future of a child.

We must teach, inspire, empower, and advocate for our children every day. It’s essential to always have hope and remember our purpose as we look forward to the better future Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed about.

When teaching and honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, you may want to share one or more of these really great books with your children. If you click on the titles in each caption you will go directly to each book’s site.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit the blog today. I hope you found this post worthwhile.

I’d love to connect further, so feel free to leave me a comment, email, or message on any social media platform. I’ll be sure to get back to you in a timely fashion.

I really appreciate your time and attention.

Yours truly,

Jennifer