Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers an annual opportunity to engage thoughtfully with the ideas that shaped the Civil Rights Movement and continue to inform conversations about justice, equity, and civic responsibility. Few of Dr. King’s writings articulate this vision more clearly than his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” in which he reminds readers that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” Written in response to criticism of the movement’s tactics, the letter situates justice not as a regional concern, but as a collective moral obligation.
Across Alabama, communities mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day by engaging with that shared responsibility in local and tangible ways. Through parades, service projects, educational programming, and public gatherings, cities throughout the state reflect on Dr. King’s legacy while considering how his words continue to resonate within their own histories and communities.
Birmingham
(Birmingham Civil Rights Institute/Facebook)
Birmingham, a city central to the civil rights movement, marks MLK Day with events that emphasize both remembrance and participation. On Saturday, January 17, the MLK Day 5K Drum Run brings runners and walkers through the historic Fourth Avenue District. Drumlines from local schools and organizations line the course, creating a celebratory atmosphere rooted in unity and collective purpose…