Many people only view Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a three-day weekend, and use the extra day to travel or rest. But for the Black Student Union and Service League, the true spirit of the holiday is not a day of vacation, but a day of service and activism to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and mission. 

To observe MLK Day, the Upper School held service activities at school throughout the week, such as letter writing to elders and a toiletry bag drive for the Patrician Society. Baldwin also promoted various off-site opportunities, including events at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, volunteer opportunities at local food pantries and shelters, and a list of charities accepting ongoing donations. 

In the coming weeks, Service League will be holding a baked goods drive for the Bethesda Project and a volunteer event at the Harriton House on February 13. 

Ms. Malloy, Coordinator of Civic Engagement, encouraged students to serve more outside of the holiday. Ms. Malloy said, “Dr. King was a public servant. If you model your life after him and what he was able to do, most people would know that one day of service is not as meaningful as adopting some sort of service commitment in your personal life.”

Another element of the holiday is advocating for social and political change. MLK Day may be more commonly associated with service, but ultimately, Martin Luther King Jr. was an activist who fought for social change and civil rights. 

Recently, Dr. King’s family has been pushing for legislative change to protect voting rights. They believe this continuation of Dr. King’s movement is the most effective way to respect his legacy.

BSU head Maya Clever ‘22 said, “The holiday has become more about non-Black people using his words for their personal gain to spread ideas of peace and happiness. It’s gotten watered down a lot because that’s not all of what he stood for. A lot of people are losing the meaning of the holiday.” 

Baldwin’s annual MLK assembly was held on February 4. Starting on February 7, BSU will host Woke Week, which will focus on the theme of “The Essence of Intersectionality”. 

Although the observed holiday has passed, there are endless ways for Baldwin students to make a difference all year long.