Celebrating Belonging Blog: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Written by Brianna McClendon – Outreach Manager – Office for Institutional Equity & Inclusion

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – MLK Day 2022

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 17, and it is a day to celebrate the accomplishments, trials, and tribulations, and reflect on the Civil Rights Movement which lasted from the 1950s to the 1960s. The Civil Rights Movement had many well-known leaders, like Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez, and many others. Martin Luther King Jr., or MLK, is one of the most well-known Civil Rights leaders and human rights activists. MLK is best known for moments such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and his, “I Have a Dream” speech. For all of his hard work and contributions, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 shortly before his passing on April 4, 1968. MLK Day became a national holiday in 1983, and all states made it a state government holiday by 2000.

Virtual Events

• Not Just Another Day Off 
• Peace Walk
• Visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC

In-Person Events in Detroit (and Metro Detroit)

• Andrew Young Documentary Screening – Charles H. Wright Museum screening at 12pm on Monday, January 17. Please be advised that you will need to either show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within the past 72 hours prior to the film screening.
• ‘King: A Filmed Record … Montgomery to Memphis’ – A screening of the Oscar-nominated film that follows Martin Luther King Jr. from 1955 through 1968 will take place at 1 p.m. Monday at the Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward, Detroit. Registration is required. 
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the Henry Ford – 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday. Free admission and parking. Capacity will be limited and monitored at the door.
• Mass for Justice and Peace – 11 a.m. mass at Detroit’s Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Ave. 
• MLK Day: Give Us The Ballot – Celebrate the 87th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday at the Detroit Historical Museum.
• MLK Day of Service Food Giveaway – 11 a.m. in the Parks and Recreation circular drive at the Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen.

Learn More and Get Involved

• NAACP
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• National Museum of African American History & Culture
• Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
• Motown Museum
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History