Honoring & Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
12 Jan 2023
Many of our speakers attribute their opportunities, successes and passion for change to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Founded during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement in 1965, APB is honored to have worked with Dr. King during his lifetime, as well as many other civil rights leaders who shared his vision. Devoted to spreading positive messages about love and equality, our speakers continue to honor Dr. King's legacy. Read their reflections below.
“MLK Day is a ritual practice that offers the nation an opportunity to reflect on our past—to assess how far we have come and to ask the challenging question, 'Where do we go from here?' We have yet to make real the promises of this fragile democracy. We’re still fighting old battles today. Remembering Dr. King’s witness and sacrifice helps fortify our spirit for the battles to come.”
DR. EDDIE GLAUDE JR.
NYT Best-Selling Author &
Chair of Princeton's Department of African American Studies
"Honoring the legacy of Dr. King is incredibly important for all Americans. Anyone who believes in freedom, justice and a brighter future for all people should understand why we need to celebrate someone who devoted his entire life to creating a better world for us all. We should take time to reflect on his legacy and contributions and work to make his dreams become reality.”
FEMINISTA JONES
Intersectionality Expert, Author & Award-Winning Blogger
"Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of gratitude and recommitment. First, gratitude for Dr. King, for his service and dedication to the cause of racial justice, economic equality and democracy. It is also a day to thank and acknowledge the thousands of others who marched with him, protested with him, strategized with him and agitated with him. We do not know the names of many of these heroes, but we should never forget their sacrifices. It is also a day to recommit to the fight for racial justice. The cause Dr. King fought for, an America that lives up to its promises of justice and equality, is not yet achieved. As Dr. King said in his speech the night before his assassination in Memphis, ‘We as a people will get to the promised land. But we are not there yet.’”
DEBORAH ARCHER
President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
"King was a product of black prophetic tradition, full of fire in his bones, love in his heart, light in his mind and courage in his soul. He’s not an isolated icon on a pedestal to be viewed as some figure in a museum. Let us learn from him and from them all."
CORNEL WEST
Public Intellectual & Groundbreaking Author
"I observed and learned many things during my years working with Dr. King. One of those things I most remember was his statement to me in 1961 in Albany, Georgia: ‘Anybody can walk with you in the warm sunlight of an August in summer. But only a "Winter Time Soldier" walks with you at midnight in the Alpine chill of winter.’”
CLARENCE B. JONES
Advisor & Speechwriter for Martin Luther King Jr.
“One of the greatest challenges we’re now facing is the growing threat to American democracy. At least 19 states have passed laws to restrict voting, attempting to disenfranchise Black people and other voters of color. The importance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s unwavering commitment to voting rights and his work to advocate equality and justice cannot be overstated in this moment of our nation’s history. As we celebrate MLK Day, may we renew our commitment to advancing these goals and work to protect voting rights—the most fundamental right of every American citizen.”
DR. KEISHA N. BLAIN
NYT Best-Selling Author & Award-Winning Historian
"Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others? We honor Dr. King’s legacy through our persistent fight for what is right and an unwavering heart and spirit in service of our nation’s most vulnerable."
WES MOORE
NYT Best-Selling Author, Social Entrepreneur & Motivational Leader