One of the most prominent and significant civil rights activists who reigned above the grave era of the United States filled with much segregation and racism is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During his leadership as a prominent member of the Civil Rights Movement, King organized several movements, wrote and spoke many speeches, all of which led to the eventual creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, abolishing legal segregation everywhere. Without Martin Luther King’s power within the Civil Rights Movement, the world would truly not be the same, and our communities would be filled with inequality, and injustice. One of King’s most recognized works in the Civil Rights Movement is his speech titled “I Have a Dream,” which calls for an end to legal segregation and active racism everywhere. The ideals highlighted within MLK’s speech titled “I Have a Dream,” is exactly why we honor him on the third Monday of January every year.
Within his speech and through his work in general, MLK calls for the unity of all individuals, regardless of race, background, age, etc. to strengthen their local communities, states, or even their nation, to make their surroundings stronger and better. But how do we honor his legacy? Simple. Community Service. Through works of community service, individuals within a community come together to make their surroundings a better place and also aiding those who might not be as fortunate enough as others when it comes to opportunities; this is exactly what King was highlighting in his speech! As members of a community, we must come together on this MLK Day to not only honor the legacy of Dr. King, but also live out his legacy and make our communities stronger, by working toward that strength together, regardless of each individual’s differences. Live out his legacy by researching service opportunities near you or reaching out to local businesses, offices, churches, etc. to find service opportunities; and as Rutgers University-Camden students, you are offered so many service opportunities within the city of Camden, so utilize them, unite together to improve the local community, and reflect and honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Rutgers-University Camden will be working alongside the City of Camden for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. On Monday, January 15th, the Rutgers-Camden community will be assisting in a health and wellness fair at the North Camden Community Center from 9:00AM to 3:00PM. The day consists of a blood drive, health screenings, and providing information regarding health insurance. Following this fair, there will also be a winter coat drive. Volunteers can visit our website to register to help! In addition to the service opportunity, Rutgers University-Camden is also hosting in-person and online conversation about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Links and more information about these conversations can be found here. We hope to see you there!
By Alex Brasberger