Circle of Friends, Head of School’s Blog – Every Day is MLK Day

Yesterday marked the 37th observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and, while the official day has now passed, we would do well not to contain the recognition of Dr. King in a single day.  In fact, every day is an opportunity to honor the civil rights leader’s life and legacy and also to reflect on the ways that we care for and serve those around us.

Quakers shared several connections with Dr. King during his lifetime.  In the 1950s, Dr. King appealed to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting members to join the Montgomery Bus Boycotts.  A few years later, Dr. King traveled to India by invitation from the Gandhi Memorial Trust through arrangements made by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).   King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail was published by AFSC in 1963 and, as a past recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in post-war Europe, AFSC nominated Dr. King to receive the Prize in 1964.  More information on these events can be found on the AFSC website.

Bayard Rustin, a close advisor to King and a principal organizer of the March on Washington, was raised by his Quaker grandmother and formally became a Friend as a young adult.  As a Quaker and a gay man, he provided a unique perspective among King’s closest advisors and served to inform and support his Fundamental Philosophy of Nonviolence.

As a Quaker school, we recognize both a direct connection to King’s legacy as well as a responsibility to help carry it forward.  Our mission calls on us to empower students to become responsible global citizens and to do so in a diverse and inclusive learning community.  In keeping with our philosophy and core values, we endeavor to live out the peace testimony and teach children how to resolve conflicts peacefully, just as Martin Luther King implored us all to do.

In recognizing MLK Day – whether on the third Monday of January or every day – we can take stock of the progress made toward achieving the dreams that he envisioned and reaffirm our commitment to build a better world through the work that we do with our students throughout the year.