In 1983, Coretta Scott King shared her vision of how our country should observe the holiday honoring her husband.
“The holiday must be substantive as well as symbolic. It must be more than a day of celebration,” she said.
“Let this holiday be a day of reflection, a day of teaching nonviolent philosophy and strategy, a day of getting involved in nonviolent action for social and economic progress.”
In this spirit the Missouri History Museum will offer several activities on Saturday, January 13, and Monday, January 15, that celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy and encourage learning, contemplation, and intention.
This fifth annual MLK Family Celebration is free of charge and intended for families with children ages 14 and under. The first 100 kids in attendance will receive a book about Dr. King. Caregivers are asked to attend all activities and participate alongside their children. Throughout each day families will have opportunities for creative expression and reflection with peace-inspired art projects, such as advocacy buttons, painted peace signs, and handwritten dreams.
Local educator Tabari Coleman will facilitate Youth Activism and Engagement workshops meant to empower kids to stand up for something they believe in and make changes in their communities. Through open conversations kids will explore the qualities of MLK and other activists, some famous and some less well known. On Saturday and Monday at 10:15 a.m., a workshop led by Coleman will take place for kids in grades 2 through 5, and an 11:15 a.m. workshop is available for kids in grades 6 through 9.
At 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. each day, Gentlemen of Vision will take the stage for a high-energy step performance inspired by the life and legacy of Martin Luther King. The Gentlemen of Vision’s mission is to prepare disadvantaged males from across the St. Louis area to complete high school and successfully transition into higher education or trade through demonstrating leadership skills, academic excellence, community service, and career readiness.
At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Monday, professional storyteller and dancer Lisa Gage will lead interactive workshops that explore MLK’s famous March on Washington, as well as local history through movement, song, and story. More widely known as Mama Lisa, Gage is the president, founder, and artistic director of Fundisha Enterprises, an organization that empowers the community through the preservation of African culture and the celebration of performing arts traditions from the diaspora. Mama Lisa’s Marching on the Move in Missouri sessions will highlight the story of A. Philip Randolph, an activist from the 1940s who spoke out about the need for better treatment of African Americans in the workplace and the military.
Throughout the weekend, guests can also visit #1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis. This exhibition provides an up-close look at the local civil rights movement and the city’s rich, complex history of advancing the cause of racial justice. Families with kids ages 4 and older are invited to explore the exhibit using Family Gallery Bags, which contain storybooks, parent resources, and activity guides designed to encourage critical thinking and meaningful conversation.
While walking through the #1 in Civil Rights gallery, you’ll likely encounter an ACTivist. These performers portray real-life historical figures from St. Louis, such as George L. Vaughn, a local civil rights attorney who represented the Shelleys in the 1948 landmark US Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer. You might encounter Charlton Tandy, a conductor on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War and a leader of the St. Louis streetcar boycotts of the late 1860s and 1870s. Kathryn Magnolia Johnson, an NAACP field agent sent to St. Louis to organize against the 1916 residential segregation ordinance, is also portrayed by an ACTivist throughout this special weekend.
As 2018 marks the 50th anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination, we recognize that his work is as important now as it has ever been before. We hope that you are able to make a trip to the Missouri History Museum with family and friends to celebrate, reflect, and set intentions to better our community.
Be sure to check www.mohistory.org/mlk for a fully updated schedule of each day’s activities.
