From the Archives: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy Before the Creation of a Federal Holiday
Thanks to the advocacy of students, Friends Select’s history of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. predates the creation of a federal holiday.
In the late 1970s, Deanna McRae King ’80, then president of the Minority Student Union, organized a petition with her classmates that urged the board of trustees to formally observe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Friends Select. Josie Whitlock P’80, ’81, who was the advisor to MISU at the time, supported their efforts.
This student-led initiative occurred four years before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was recognized as a national holiday in 1984. With a successful petition, Friends Select became one of the first schools in the country to officially observe the holiday. The early format of the school’s recognition included Meeting for Worship followed by a day of service in which students gathered to give back to their community. This would become the foundation for a rich tradition of reflection and action. Friends Select continues to hold an all-school Meeting for Worship annually with a focus on Dr. King’s legacy.
At present, student-led initiatives continue through programming that ensures Dr. King’s messages are visible both on MLK Day and throughout the year. For the MLK Day Teach-in, an upper school student committee invites guest speakers who have chosen careers that continue the legacy of Dr. King’s work. The MLK Day Teach-in inspired Social Justice Week, which has become an annual fixture of our upper school educational program. In the months leading up to Social Justice Week, student organizers design curriculum, plan field trips, and invite guest speakers for themed tracks of their own creation, such as Immigration Reform, Environmental Justice, Education Reform, and the Drug and Opioid Crisis, among other topics. Lower and middle school each hold a Social Justice Day during the school year as well, in which students explore activism and the power of protest.
The Day of Inclusivity, Community, and Equity (DICE), another powerful example of Dr. King’s vision in action, is an upper school event facilitated by student volunteers and diversity clerks. Last year, Sophia Le ’25 and Jordyn Battle ’25 spearheaded the planning for the event’s focus, “Creating Equity and Access: A Pathway to Inclusion,” and connected with keynote speaker Freedom Smitty, who worked alongside Dr. King during the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the day, Freedom Smitty engaged with students from all three divisions in powerful discussions about social justice, diversity, and inclusion, inspiring our community through his firsthand accounts of collaborating with Dr. King.
Over the years, the observance of
MLK Day at Friends Select has expanded to our entire community. The Family Association has traditionally organized service opportunities and now leads a program focused on social justice and action in the spirit of Dr. King. The event highlights the four roles of social activism (as outlined by Bill Moyer and George Lakey P’89, GP’27)—rebel, organizer, advocate, and helper—and features keynote speakers and workshops addressing issues such as food justice and climate change. These activities engage participants of all ages and connect Dr. King’s vision to current issues.
What began with a student-led petition has become a meaningful community tradition that embodies the school’s dedication to creating engaged citizens. From Deanna’s pioneering advocacy to today’s community-led programming, Friends Select continues to honor Dr. King and his vision of justice and equality year-round.
Our next MLK Day Family Experience, hosted by the Family Association, will take place on Monday, January 19, at the Race Street Meetinghouse. All are welcome!
By Dick Hoffman
