Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr became the most visible leader of the 20th century civil rights movement through his use of non-violent resistance to achieve legal equality for African Americans. In 1983, 15 years after Dr. King was assassinated, the U.S. established the third Monday in January as a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The holiday was first celebrated nationally in 1986.
Grand Rapids observes MLK Day each year with a series of events honoring the legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and seeking to advance his goals of universal justice and equality. Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University are among the area colleges presenting special programming on and around the holiday. The Urban League of West Michigan celebrates with an annual corporate breakfast. See a full list of this year’s events below.
MLK Day also serves as an unofficial kickoff to the city’s Black History Month observance, which encompasses everything from museum exhibits to walking tours.
Dr. King’s impact is felt every day in Grand Rapids, as residents and visitors traverse Martin Luther King Jr. Street, and play and swim in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Memorial statues of civil rights icon Rosa Parks,Grand Rapids Mayor Lyman Parks (the first African American to hold that position) and Helen Claytor (African American president of both the Grand Rapids YWCA and national YWCA) reflect on the birth and progress of Dr. King’s movement, while the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives explores the lives, culture, history and art of local African Americans, before and after Dr. King’s monumental achievements.