Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised in Atlanta. Walking Downtown, it is hard to miss the mark his presence has on the city.
On every third Monday in January, the holiday is federally observed. For the civil and human rights conscious person, here are some ways to be inspired by his message and others like it.
Take a Walk Down Auburn Avenue
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In the Sweet Auburn historic district, King’s neighborhood, church, and life still has a strong aura.
Civil rights soundbites are graphited on buildings in the area. Ebenezer Baptist Church is where King preached a message of nonviolence and religiosity.
Further down Auburn, are the headquarters for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that Dr. King held the first Presidency position.
Notably, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is based in Auburn. The national park and landmark houses King’s birth home, grave, message of nonviolence, statues, and a rose garden of the “I Have a Dream” speech. On MLK Day, the park will have free attendance.
More importantly, all of these locations have been marked deeply by King, using whatever means they exist as to empower civil rights into a day King was not able to witness.
Give Back
As MLK inspired, civil rights begin with a dedication to your community. Atlanta is filled with organizations in need of a hand and people in need of some help.
To honor a passionate and charitable man, give back to a cause that makes you uneasy and passionate. Whether it’s feeding the homeless, helping the city be more green, volunteering at an animal shelter, or something more radical, let MLK mark doing what you know needs to be done.
Maybe even, continue your community work on the other days out of the year.
