Although omicron remains a threat, America will take time to reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. At the same time, many events have been canceled due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. For instance, Los Angeles’ Kingdom Day has been canceled as is the Freedom Train to San Francisco. Out of an abundance of caution, it might be best for you to stay clear of large gatherings this year. Yet, in spite of all this, you can still honor Martin Luther King Jr. albeit remotely or far more cautiously.
Martin Luther King Jr, Memorial
1964 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 426-6841
www.nps.gov/mlkm
If you need to venture out, the MLK Jr. Memorial is among the safest to see. That’s because it’s outdoors and in a large enough area to social distance. What’s more, there’s no fee and open 24/7. If you can’t make it to Washington DC, you can learn more about the memorial online. It’s not clear if a virtual cam will be available.
Lincoln Memorial
After visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, you should also stop by the Lincoln Memorial. It’s about a half mile walk but the DC Circulator should be operating. If you do visit in person, take time to walk the steps, if you can. From there, you can visualize Dr. King’s view when he gave his iconic “ I Have a Dream” speech.
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Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
450 Auburn Ave., NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 331-5190 x5046
www.nps.gov/malu
All indoor facilities are closed and tours are currently suspended. However, you can still see important sites while outdoors. To illustrate, you can see the exterior of Dr. King’s birth home at 501 Auburn Avenue. Equally important for you is Ebenezer Baptist Church a short walk away. Last year, a virtual tour of the National Historic Site was available. You can view additional virtual tours on YouTube or other sources.
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National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry St.
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 521-9699
www.civilrightsmuseum.org
The National Civil Rights Museum will be open at limited capacity for King Day 2022. Furthermore, you can enjoy free admission with reservations required. However, even with extended hours, free admission access may run out. You can also register for the special virtual presentation. Additionally, there will be outdoor music, recorded speeches by Dr. King and more.
Read The Letter From Birmingham Jail
In 1963, Dr. King spent eight days in a Birmingham, Alabama jail. On April 12, he was arrested due to his nonviolent protests against racism. His letter from Birmingham Jail is among the most important works for you to read and understand. The most important point from the letter is that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. Furthermore, he encourages people to take action against these laws.
Recreation of the Birmingham Jail Cell
You can see a recreation of Dr. King’s cell inside the National Civil Rights Museum.
Watch A Video Of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream”
One of the most inspirational videos you’ll ever view is Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Indeed, it was Dr. King’s most memorable presentation and unquestionably his most beloved. Lasting 17 minutes, it shouldn’t take long for you to take in the sights and sounds during the events that day on August 28, 1963. Multiple resources are available in which to view the video. Namely YouTube and Vimeo, among others. You can also listen and read the transcript through sources like NPR.
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Watch A Movie About Martin Luther King Jr.
Staying home and watching a movie will be among the safest things you can do on Monday. What’s more, there are several related Martin Luther King Jr. movies to select from. In particular are recent movies like Selma and King of the Wilderness. If that’s not enough, there are additional recommendations like I Am MLK Jr, Betty and Coretta and Legacy of Love.
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About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, he reportedly had a digital audience reach of 489 million and more than 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additional stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, OWC.com and Radio.com. He is a Media Fellow of Stanford University.