MLK Jr.

As I can continue to grow as a teacher observing Martin Luther King Jr's birthday becomes more and more powerful each time. Last week we were working on extracting important and significant information from our readings. As a way to teach this, since we've already studied Jackie Robinson and Cesar Chavez, we discussed significant heroes in history. It was a great way to tie in MLK Jr. I did a read aloud with Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. It's a powerful book that shows Martin's growth from child to preacher to activist to civil rights leader. As I read the book out loud to my students I got a little choked up as I looked out amongst their captivated faces. A mix of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White looked back at me and I felt like we had come so far as a country. I finished the book and looked back at my students, most working on becoming the first college graduates for their families in our "College for Certain" atmosphere at school. In that moment I realized the lesson on "extracting important and significant information" was actually shifted back to me. I felt like we actually have a lot of room for growth as a nation, as I often have. Martin and many others got us to a significant point in history as far as social justice, but we must keep working on that equality in our ever changing world. Much more could be said, but I think MLK said it best...

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."