Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Back those many years ago, our school district decided not to close for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Instead, the board encouraged schools to incorporate appropriate activities into the school day.

Photo by Norm Lono

I was put in charge of our school MLK observance.

During a faculty meeting, I ran down some suggestions I had for speakers, videos, book lists, etc.

I was on a roll with grade-appropriate ways for my elementary school, located in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, to help our students understand the importance of this man and the movement he lead in bringing the United States out of segregation and closer to its vision, that all of us are equal under the civil law and under the moral principles of humanity.

And I was ticking off ideas until one of our teachers innocently raised his hand, genuinely confused, and said, “Excuse me, Lily. I don’t get why we’re doing this. We don’t have any black students here.”

I was stunned and speechless (a thing my husband will confirm has happened perhaps three times in my life.)

But it was a fifth grade teacher who filled the silence, saying kindly, as if giving gentle instruction, “But see, that’s why it’s even more important that we do something. Otherwise, our kids might think Martin Luther King was a black hero instead of an American hero.”

Heads nodded in affirmation. It was those nodding heads that meant so much to me and continue to touch me to this day.

Slowly, slowly still we move. Slowly minds are opening. Eyes are seeing. We have come so far, and so part of the day is for celebration. We have so far to go until we arrive.

And so part of the day is for the movement that continues to need our attention. A movement that embraces the infinite possibilities of hope no matter the color of the skin; no matter what language is spoken; no matter where love is found; no matter where God is found.

Pero poco a poco. Little by little. The arc continues to bend toward justice. Reason enough to pause and reflect and be moved by a movement.