Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Some responses and things to read today
It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and politicians, celebrities, sports stars and activists have all posted about the holiday on social media.
As Martin Luther King Jr. Day continues, more and more people have posted about the holiday on social media, and articles have joined the chorus as well.
We’ve put together some of the responses and gathered up a few articles to read as well, towards the bottom.
Bernice King urged people to remember not only her father, but also her mother, Coretta Scott King:
As you honor my father today, please remember and honor my mother, as well. She was the architect of the King Legacy and founder of @TheKingCenter, which she founded two months after Daddy died. Without #CorettaScottKing, there would be no #MLKDay. #MLK50Forward #MLK pic.twitter.com/qhwSnX9Qmh
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 15, 2018
The King Center itself has a digital archive on its website that includes letters, speeches, transcripts and telegrams.
Bruno Mars didn’t need to say anything other than “A true leader.”
A true leader. Happy #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/KJF7datN9M
— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) January 15, 2018
Here’s NBA star Klay Thompson talking about going beyond today:
Celebrating his legacy not just today, but every day. Honor him by continuing his work and standing up for those who can’t #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/GjSTRlR6EY
— klay thompson (@KlayThompson) January 15, 2018
The NBA Players’ Association also put out a video — as the NBA always marks this holiday with games that commemorate King.
I Have A Dream. #PlayersVoice #MLK50 pic.twitter.com/qDqu7xTYUc
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 15, 2018
The Women’s March also reposted a video, which as the organization noted stems from last year’s Jan. 21 March on Washington:
On #MLKDay, we reflect on the principles of Kingian nonviolence from which we ground our movement. These kids give voice to them.
— Women's March (@womensmarch) January 15, 2018
Please watch and share this video originally posted ahead of the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017. pic.twitter.com/LJhBCjFa4j
Getty Images collected several quotes in a video:
"Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King, Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/rtZDGzO2fU
— Getty Images (@GettyImages) January 15, 2018
Barack Obama needed no pictures to mark the day, just a simple reminder that being young doesn’t always matter:
Dr. King was 26 when the Montgomery bus boycott began. He started small, rallying others who believed their efforts mattered, pressing on through challenges and doubts to change our world for the better. A permanent inspiration for the rest of us to keep pushing towards justice.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 15, 2018
Among the retweeters of the above tweet is Captain America himself, Chris Evans.
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia put together plenty of different tweets marking today:
Dr. King was my friend, my brother, my leader. He was the moral compass of our nation and he taught us to recognize the dignity and worth of every human being. #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/2OdUL5clIa
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) January 15, 2018
He gave his life for us pic.twitter.com/HF3qOMSXFk
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) January 15, 2018
Today, Dr. King’s legacy is a guiding light. As we push and pull for a more just and more equal society, Dr King’s campaigns against war, against poverty, against racism show us that love is the universal value of a society at peace with itself. #goodtrouble
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) January 15, 2018
Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii also tweeted something out marking the holiday:
Sharing one of my favorite quotes this #MLKDay. Dr. King's words ring truer than ever. pic.twitter.com/fBVKtm2FQD
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) January 15, 2018
Google, naturally, put out a fresh Google Doodle:
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
— Google (@Google) January 15, 2018
Hear from guest artist @CannadayChapman on his #MLKDay #GoogleDoodle → https://t.co/gMgGB2hd1c pic.twitter.com/Vx1xNZ7ciW
And the MLK Day Twitter account urged people to do something on this National Day of Service:
Today is a National Day of Service to others in honor of Dr. King's legacy. #MLKDay What are you doing for others? pic.twitter.com/r4JNeXhbYV
— MLK Day (@MLKDay) January 15, 2018
Whoopi Goldberg on The View introduced clips of people talking about their own dreams:
.@WhoopiGoldberg: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of his assassination. But here we are a half-century later, and his passionate call for equality and civil rights feels like it could be in jeopardy with more people than ever seemingly feeling marginalized.” #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/N3zEw0wolx
— The View (@TheView) January 15, 2018
Actress and screenwriter Lena Waithe also joined in:
As for some reading material, Teen Vogue has selected three speeches that it believes you should know that are also not named “I Have a Dream.” The Washington Post has written about the not-well-known Poor People’s Campaign that King was involved in in 1968 before his assassination. The Post has also published a new meditation on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
Next: 15 celebrities who got political in 2017
What are your plans, if any, for commemorating this holiday?