The woman we have to thank for MLK Day…
Growing up, MLK Day was an important holiday in our household. My Dad was a student of the Harvard Kennedy school, but always talked about how he wished he had studied theology. (Now, he’s returned to pursue a certificate in Jesuit studies at Fordham! So cool!). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of his biggest heroes. So, on this day, he would read to us the “I Have a Dream” speech. Afterwards, in my fathers typical fashion, we would debrief and reflect on the role of civil rights leaders in our country.
As a child, this felt like a chore. But in retrospect, I’m grateful to have been encouraged to reflect on MLK’s leadership.
However, there’s another figure I want to give some TLC today for her role in the Civil Rights Movement: Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
It is this powerhouse of a woman that we have to thank for MLK Day. Let me explain…
The first bill proposing MLK Day as a federal holiday was put up only days after the Drs. death in 1968. However, it wouldn’t be until 1983, after much effort from Mrs. King and other activists, that this holiday would actually be approved.
Now, Coretta Scott King was a formidable character in her own right. She graduated with a B.A. in music and was then awarded a scholarship to continue her musical studies at a the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. This was very impressive in a time where only ~23% of women held bachelor degrees. Considering that her opportunities were further limited as a Black woman, this is even more impressive.
After marrying Dr. King, Mrs. King would run a full household (often alone as her husband was traveling) and contributed to the Civil Rights Movement alongside her husband.
After her husbands assassination, Mrs. King would open the King Center, an institution dedicated to educating people on nonviolent protest and advocacy.
On this day, I pay tribute to Coretta Scott King alongside her husband. I am thankful for these, and all of, the incredible civil rights leaders who made such an impact on our country.
