Here’s how to honor his legacy this week.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – a.k.a. MLK Day. You may be off work today, chillin’ in your bathtub reading this, or maybe you’re taking a break during your shift or morning errands to scan your emails. Either way, here’s what you need to know about MLK Day.

🎂 It’s always on the third Monday of Jan. in celebration of MLK Jr.’s birthday, Jan. 15.

📆 It was created in 1983 when a bill was passed to make MLK Jr.’s birthday a national holiday – 15 years after his assassination.

📆 It began being officially observed in 1986, 3 years after the passing of said bill. That makes this the 35th year of celebrating the holiday.

📜 But S.C. was the last state to sign a bill recognizing MLK Day as a paid holiday in 2000 – the same year the Confederate flag was moved from the State House dome to the grounds out front.

🕯 The first celebrations on Jan. 20, 1986 consisted of marches, candlelight vigils, concerts, readings, church services + teach-ins, held across the country.

👐 Since 1994, MLK Day = a national day of service – spent volunteering, giving back + donating to the community.

📆 This year marks the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination.

📍 King’s hometown is not far from ours – he’s from Atlanta, Ga.

Want to celebrate here in Cola?

Here are a couple of ways to honor MLK Jr.’s memory this week:

Today | Monday | Jan. 15

Give back by helping clean up the rivers with Congaree Riverkeeper (10 a.m.-1 p.m.; waders + gloves provided) or painting at Poinsett State Park, or entering a PB&J-making competition with United Way. 🍞
Head to the Vista or go DT for the City’s MLK Parade from 9:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 🎉
A wreath laying ceremony led by the members of the Alpha Psi Lambda and Omicron Iota Lambda chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will take place at 3 p.m. on the corner of Greene + Harden St.
Hear Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Benedict College’s first female president, speak at the 30th annual MLK celebration, 4 p.m. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Five Points.
Get free admission all day at Columbia Museum of Art on Main St. Galleries open at 11 a.m. 🖼
Continue celebrating the arts + the American dream with FAAAC’s In Celebration of Dreamers at Columbia Museum of Art, 12-3 p.m. This free drop-in is the premiere of bridge/refrain, a short film on a young woman’s experiences of being black in America, that will run through Feb. 25 at the museum.

Thursday | Jan. 18

UofSC begins their 35th annual MLK celebration with events + volunteer opportunities throughout the week – including UofSC School of Law’s free film screening of “Rikers: An American Jail,” at 6 p.m., followed by a panel discussion ft. WIS’ Judi Gatson. 📽

Friday | Jan. 19

Hear from the first African-American student to be admitted to UofSC in 1963 at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. at “The Zone” at Williams Brice Stadium. Purchase tickets ($5-10) at the Koger Center. 🍳

Saturday | Jan. 20

Gather at Davis Field on Greene St. (by the reflection pool in front of Thomas Cooper Library) to volunteer in UofSC’s day of service, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sunday | Jan. 21

See performances by local schools + universities at “Freedom Rings: An artistic celebration of the life of Dr. Martin L. King Jr.,” 6:00 p.m. at the Koger Center ($10).

We hope you have a peaceful Monday and take time to be thankful for the sacrifices of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others like him who have made strides in history, to help better tomorrow.

I also want to introduce two new names you’ll be seeing soon: Nicole and Lauren, our Spring editorial interns, who officially start today. We’re so glad to have them on our team. Look forward to hearing from them in the coming weeks.

–Chloe

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