Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who envisioned a better world free from discrimination and hatred. He led marches for the right to vote for people of color, for an end to Jim Crow laws and for other civil rights.

King successfully oversaw the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which led to a United States Supreme Court decision that declared the Alabama and Montgomery laws that segregated buses were unconstitutional. His “I Have a Dream” speech delivered to more than 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C envisioned a world where children would be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.

Although Martin Luther King Jr.’s life was tragically cut short at age 39, we can still honor his legacy by teaching the younger generation to uphold the values he held dear – compassion, equality and service.

The following are ways to help your child learn more about the beloved civil rights leader and to become a better citizen.

Model compassion. In a society that often seems lacking in empathy, it’s vitally important to teach the younger generation to be kind to others. Being good-hearted enables your child to understand another child’s feelings and to comfort them.

As a parent, you can model compassion for your kids in the following ways:

• Treating your child with respect
• Training your child to pay attention to people’s facial expressions
• Explain that calling someone names or hitting can be hurtful
• Being patient with your little one

Promote equality. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed to outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender and national origin. More than 60 years after the legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, marginalized people still face bias in society.

It’s never too early to teach your child that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Some families don’t practice the same religion or eat the same foods or speak the same language as your family does. These differences are to be celebrated, not hated.

You can promote equality by:

• Exposing your child to foods from different cultures
• Teaching your child a different language
• Reading books on various cultures

Live a life of service. Martin Luther King Jr. believed deeply in giving back to the community. Serving others teaches us gratitude, humility, problem-solving skills, and improves socialization.

The City of Philadelphia hosts an annual Martin Luther King Day of Service, which will take place on Monday, January 15, 2024. This event is a wonderful way for the whole family to get involved with various projects, such as food distribution and donation and clean ups at parks and recreation centers.

For more information about the Martin Luther King Day of Service or to sign up, click here.