Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs on the third Monday in January each year. First celebrated in 1986, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is honored primarily through community service. The Corporation for National and Community Service in affiliation with The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia created the slogan “a day on, not a day off” to encourage citizens to have an active role during the holiday.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has organized a march to honor King at the university. It will begin at the Pennington Center at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, and will continue with a program following the march in the Student Union Theater.
Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Cedric Dent Jr. elaborated on King’s legacy and the importance of the march to his campus organization.
“Martin Luther King Jr. was excellent example of service and diversity,” said Dent. “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Nu expresses our appreciation for all of the work he has done by conducting our annual MLK march and program. Usually the march and program lasts about a hour. The purpose of the march and program is to bring more diversity to Southeastern Louisiana University and also to the Hammond community.”
The King Center hosted its annual Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 13. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bernice A. King explains on the Salute to Greatness Facebook page that the award is given to “national and international individuals and organizations who exemplify excellence in leadership and who have demonstrated a commitment to the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Author and wife of Martin Luther King Jr. from 1953 until his death in 1968, Coretta Scott King, previously shared her vision of how this holiday should be perceived by the nation in a reflection entitled “The Meaning of The King Holiday.”
“Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America,” said Coretta King. “This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples’ holiday, and it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.”