Martin Luther King Day marks the peaceful civil movement for legal rights of African Americans, led by Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States. This day is not just another federal holiday; rather it has some important lessons for our kids who haven’t witnessed the struggle of African Americans in the country. Therefore, learning about Martin Luther King Jr. is not only about getting familiar with our history, but also a way to develop sense of right and wrong in the kids.

Give peace a chance

Martin Luther’s never resorted to violence. History tells us that during the civil movement for “equality for African Americans in the United States”, there were certain entities that were of the opinion that freedom should be attained by any means necessary, including violence. However, Dr. King opted for methods which put across his message in a strong, yet non-violent way. He carried out protests and organized civil disobedience movement at grassroots level.

Fight for what you believe in

It is necessary to have a purpose or ambition in life and make efforts to achieve them. Our kids need to be taught this very important lesson. Dr King stayed determined about his cause, even in the face of grave danger and resistance. One glaring example is the Montgomery Bus Boycott when some African Americans boycotted the bus travel for over a year until the Supreme Court decided in their favor and made racial segregation on transportation unconstitutional. Dr. King led the boycott and stood firm until he was successful.

Proactive not reactive

Dr. King always believed in the proactive way of addressing issues. He believed in non-violent but firm ways to pursue his cause of gaining equality for African Americans. He was a great orator and used this strength to reach out to masses and gather public opinion for his cause. Some of his notable speeches are "I Have a Dream" and "Letter from the Birmingham Jail."

Move past obstacles

When you are poised to achieve something in your life, you are bound to face a lot of resistance. The important thing is to fight determinedly and passionately to clear those obstacles. Dr. King was loved by thousands of people, but there were a lot of people against him too. In the course of the movement, there were times when people doubted him, left his side and criticized him for being weak. He was imprisoned several times. Sometimes he had to face momentary defeat. Despite all the criticism, backstabbing and resistance, Dr. King moved on to achieve his goal.