When we think of influencers, social media often comes to mind. But Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a true influencer, shaping history and inspiring change without hashtags or viral posts. Celebrate the legacy of the most influential civil rights leader in American history by sharing these 5 facts with your kids. It's a great way to honor Dr. King’s work and teach the next generation about equality, justice, and the power of standing up for what’s right.
Before you learn 5 facts, we want to challenge you to honor his legacy, you can even you social media to share how you followed in his steps:
This MLK, Jr. Day, inspire your kids to follow in the footsteps of Dr. King by taking part in these fun and meaningful challenges. Encourage them to make a difference and live out his values of kindness, service, and equality!
1. Spread Kindness Challenge
Dr. King believed in the power of love and kindness. Challenge your kids to:
- Perform 3 acts of kindness in their community. This could be helping a neighbor, writing a thank-you note, or sharing a toy with a sibling.
- Write down how these acts made them feel and share their experiences with friends or family.
2. Dream Big Challenge
Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech inspired millions. Encourage your kids to:
- Write or draw their dream for the future. What do they want the world to look like?
- Share their dream with family or post it on your fridge as a reminder to work toward it.
3. Serve Your Community Challenge
Dr. King valued serving others. Get your kids involved by:
- Collecting food or clothing for a local shelter.
- Volunteering with you at a community organization or helping with a cleanup project.
- Check for opportunities at Ouachita Green
4. Learn and Share Challenge
Knowledge is power! Challenge your kids to:
- Read a book or watch a short video about Dr. King’s life and achievements.
- Share what they learned with friends, classmates, or family to keep his story alive.
Celebrate with Purpose
Take the MLK, Jr. Day Challenge and honor Dr. King by taking steps toward building a more kind, inclusive, and fair world. Let your kids lead the way and experience the joy of making a difference!
1. He skipped two grades
Martin Luther King Jr. was such a good student he skipped both the 9th and 12th grades and entered college when he was only 15 years old. He attended Morehouse College, the alma mater of his father and maternal grandfather, and eventually earned a doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University.
 rattanakun via Canva |
2. King improvised the most recognized lines from his most famous speech
In August of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. helped to organize the famous March on Washington where more than 250,000 people joined together to show their support of equal rights for everyone — including advocating for an end to segregation in public schools, protection from police abuse, and to get laws preventing discrimination in employment. It was here that MLK delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
But the final draft he had on stage with him at the event did not include that line.
3. His birth name was Michael
MLK was actually named Michael King Jr. at birth, after his father. When Martin Luther King Jr. was five, his father changed both of their names to Martin Luther to honor an important leader of the German Protestant church.
 katiekaboom via Pixabay |
4. He got the idea of nonviolent protests from Jesus and Gandhi
King said in his book, Stride Toward Freedom, that his philosophy of nonviolence was inspired by Jesus, while he found inspiration in the techniques of nonviolence from Gandhi.
King identified the six principles of nonviolence:
- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people
- Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding
- Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice or evil, not people
- Nonviolence holds that unearned, voluntary suffering for a just cause can educate and transform people and societies
- Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate
- Nonviolence believes the universe is on the side of justice
Read more about King's philosophy from the King Center in Atlanta, Ga.
5. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a Day of Service
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, encouraging Americans young and old to volunteer to improve their communities. AmeriCorps has led this effort for the last quarter-century. The organization encourages:
- Engaging with your community and creating constructive action
- Acting on Dr. King’s legacy of social justice and equity
- Volunteering to serve others
