We all know the most vocal man who spoke about segregation and anti-racism in the U.S.A. We have appointed a public holiday for him so many of us do not have to work every third Monday of January. We celebrate and thank him for all he has done to make a change in the American system. What are you doing on this day? The following month, February is also Black History Month.

In honor of the late King, let me introduce you to the city he was born in, where he lived and worked until the last of his days. In order to preserve those places, the National Historical Park was dedicated to the late King. In 1980, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park was established in Atlanta, Georgia. It is free to take a walk around the park and see the house that he and his family lived in.

While I was visiting a friend in Atlanta, I thought, “How could I not visit and learn more about one of the most important figures in racial justice?” We made a stop at the King Center to check out details about his life and contributions to making the world a better and loving place. I was keen on visiting this museum because I admire his work and dedication.

Inside the King Center is a Freedom Hall where you can read about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family’s life. There are plagues on the wall and abstract objects from King’s life. The life of Coretta Scott, King’s wife, is also remembered on the walls as she was an important part of King’s life. The room is not big at all. It has just enough space to place photos, clothing worn by the Kings, and other mementos. You can probably circle around and skim the room in 5 minutes unless you want to read everything in detail.

Where did MLK practice his love and patience from? Right next door to the first room I entered was about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. MLK learned more about a life of peace and equality from Gandhi in India. Dr. King credited Gandhi for his influence in making a force in society and considered Gandhi his mentor. When Dr. King and Mrs. King visited India, Mrs. King loved wearing saris and received many gifts as well.

When I was in elementary school, I remember the first time our class learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the day we watched Our Friend, Martin. What hit me so hard was the powerful message of this educational animation. My heart was left broken during an outrageous scene out of the many that we must have all seen in any type of MLK-related media. 10-Year-Old me questioned, “Why can’t we all just be equal and love each other?” It was the scene where innocent people were hosed by the fire hose. It was and still is unfair to treat others like they do not belong. “How could people attack others because of the color of their skin? How could anyone be that evil to hose down and kill others for the way they look?” Now, of course, these are all rhetorical questions. It made me feel flustered and I looked at my classmates next to me to see if they were also tearing up. Although, I couldn’t look too long because I didn’t want them to see me get choked up. MLK’s message was extremely impactful to the younger me.

It was such a beautiful day when I visited the National Historical Park. I would advise planning for at least one hour to explore. Don’t forget to check out the souvenir shop and pick up something to remind yourself to spread love. The money from your purchases will go toward the King Center and help upkeep MLK’s legacy.

What was the first thing you ever learned about MLK? How old were you when you learned about MLK?

Happy Black History Month! Book your trip here!

Sincerely,
Amy♡