Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential figure in the Civil Rights Movement. King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Ga. From a young age, King was introduced to the world of activism. His father was an activist in the early Civil Rights Movement; he fought for equality and voting rights. While in high school, King joined the debate team, kicking off his life of public speaking. In 1954, King moved to Montgomery, Ala., to become a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Just after his move to Montgomery, King helped orchestrate the Montgomery Bus Boycott, sit-ins, peaceful protests and marches. His activism in Montgomery allowed his rise to fame as a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
Spartanburg celebrates King’s life through acts of service, scholarship opportunities and town celebrations.
Amira Jones (12), the treasurer of the Black History Club, expands on her viewpoint of MLK’s impact on the world.
“Dr. King impacted the world with many different innovations. He showed us the value of basic human rights and unity. Not just the point of us being able to make such great changes together, but also with tranquility and devotion. Especially when fighting for such extreme matters,” Jones said.
Sydney Josey (12) was awarded the Martin Luther King Unity Fund Scholarship due to her passion and her ambitions. She was one of 26 applicants who applied for the scholarship. The Martin Luther King Unity Fund is a $1,000 scholarship given to two high school seniors in Spartanburg County.
Josey recognizes the generous scholarship she won and looks forward to her future.
“I feel honored, and I am very grateful to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Unity Fund Scholarship because this scholarship would help me continue my journey into my future work in cybersecurity, equipping me to serve not only my peers but also the broader world,” Josey said.
Throughout his life, King was awarded many honors, such as the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, the NAACP Medal in 1957 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but the most rewarding is his lifelong impact on civil rights in the world. King’s dedication and his actions are looked upon with great respect and celebration. Martin Luther King Day is every third Monday in January; many communities get together to commemorate all that King did. “Unity Week,” “Walk as One,” “The MLK Day of Service” and “Fill the Truck” are events hosted for MLK Day in Spartanburg School District 7.
Sherrina Black, the Black History Club adviser, reflects on the importance of the Unity Walk.
“The Black History Club will be participating in the MLK Unity Walk as a way to honor Dr. King’s legacy and promote unity within our community. This event is a meaningful opportunity for our members to reflect on Dr. King’s message of service, justice and togetherness while actively engaging with the broader Spartanburg community,” Black said.
Some District 7 students and faculty spent the day off as a “Day On” in memory of King’s life of charity. Carver Middle School organized an MLK Day event called “Fill the Truck” where they merged the idea of having a coat drive and gathering canned goods. The donations consisted of toiletries, canned food, clothes and games. They also collected coats for shelters, nursing homes and the soup kitchen.
Amy Waddell, the Carver Middle School Beta Club and Student Council adviser, details the “Fill the Truck” charity event.
“The Carver Middle School Student Council wanted to do a coat drive, and the CMS Beta Club wanted to collect can goods. Instead of doing two different events, we combined both on MLK Day to have a student-led community service and it be a ‘Day On’ for MLK Day,” Waddell said.
King’s legacy is forever engraved into Spartanburg’s society through events like “Fill the Truck” and amazing opportunities like the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund Scholarship, among other meaningful events and activities.
