Martin Luther King Jr. was a legendary civil rights movement leader in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He was central in fighting for racial equality and ending segregation in the United States. His nonviolent tactics also informed and inspired global movements to end racial inequality and discrimination. In the United States, we honor his efforts on the third Monday of every January, known as the MLK Day of Service.
If this is your first time living in the U.S. during Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you may wonder how best you can participate and honor his legacy. We’ll share all that you need to know about the history of this day of service and how you can give back to your community to honor MLK.
What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
In November 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to create the federal and national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This holiday takes place every year on the third Monday of January. It is the only federal holiday designated as a day of service and is referred to as “a day on, not a day off.” Every person is encouraged to volunteer in their communities or perform an act of service on this day—whatever that may mean to you.
Over the years, the MLK Day of Service has expanded and grown as more Americans volunteer on this day. Some people volunteer with
Habitat for Humanity to help build and fix houses, others decide to volunteer in local soup kitchens, and some choose to organize food and clothing drives. Whatever service you decide to do in your community can make a bigger impact than you may think.
It is common for your employer to give employees MLK Day off as a paid holiday. Many businesses use it as a floating holiday and encourage their employees to volunteer or give back to their community on this day.
A brief history of MLK’s impact to citizens and immigrants in the U.S.
The civil rights movement brought about the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The civil rights movement also overhauled the U.S. immigration system with the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1965. This act made it illegal for the government to give preference to immigrants from the Western hemisphere and instead offer equal opportunity to immigrants all over the world.
Following the civil rights movement, Congress passed many laws to help end discrimination in the U.S., including the Voting Rights Act, Fair Housing Act, Equal Rights Amendment, and Americans with Disabilities Act. The government also expanded the definition of refugees beyond that from World War II Europe in the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. Since these historic bills have been implemented, millions of immigrants and refugees have settled in the United States.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s global footprint
Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts in the U.S. inspired racial equality movements worldwide and significantly influenced international law. He inspired the United Nations’ 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This convention targeted oppression and discrimination and asked that members outlaw hate speech and criminalize membership in racist organizations.
MLK was actually influenced by
Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent philosophies and traveled to India with his wife, Coretta Scott King, in 1959. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to Mahatma Gandhi as “the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change.”
King was also vocal about his opposition to the apartheid in South Africa. The future South African president Nelson Mandela used King’s nonviolent strategies nearly 30 years after MLK’s assassination. Martin Luther King Jr. continues to impact global racial equality movements with his teachings even decades following his death.
How you can honor MLK Day in your workplace or community
As we near the MLK holiday, your workplace might ask you and your colleagues to participate in a volunteer effort on MLK Day. Many workplaces organize drives or volunteer community efforts for their employees. However, if your office does not have anything planned for MLK Day, you can probably find many opportunities to serve within your community.
A few volunteer ideas for MLK Day
A food or clothing drive
Many local organizations accept donations year-round, so consider sorting through your clothes at home or setting up a drive with friends, colleagues or neighbors in January and then dropping off all your donations on MLK Day.
A movie screening or discussion about racial equality
Some employers will organize meaningful conversations or even a movie screening to discuss the fight for racial equality. Look for similar events in your community, or even invite some people over to watch a movie related to the civil rights movement. This can also be an opportunity to share similar stories from your own country’s history and culture.
Volunteer at a local nonprofit
MLK Day is a great opportunity to get involved with your community’s local nonprofits. Your local soup kitchen may need volunteers, or schools or other local organizations may need supplies or help cleaning up or painting. Check with your local schools or charities to see how you can help.
You can also check out the
AmeriCorps MLK Day website to search for volunteer opportunities in your local community.
How to celebrate MLK Day globally
You can even share this day of service and giving back with family and friends abroad. Tell them about MLK Day and see if they would volunteer with a local charity in their community. Perhaps they can organize their own clothing drive, or you can collect donations to send back home to an organization in need.
If you collect financial resources to send to your family and friends abroad, using
Western Union’s money transfer app is a quick and easy way to send money overseas. Simply download the app, then upload your information and the receiver’s information to conveniently send money worldwide. You can then reliably track your transfer directly in the app for real-time updates.
Of course, you can volunteer at any time of year, if you want. But the MLK Day of Service is a time where there are many more opportunities to do so and the day also gives you a terrific chance to connect with your coworkers and local community.
