Honoring MLK Day at Curley
by Curley Company | January 11, 2024
A core value of ours at Curley Company is seeing the impact of our work and effecting change. We opened the floor for conversation with the entire Curley team about how Dr. King’s legacy lives on in us. Reflections from our conversation are shared below along with suggestions for various ways to celebrate the day by learning more about Rev. Dr. King’s legacy and the civil rights movement.
Reflections from the Curley Team
KayAnn Schoeneman, President
What I value most about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was his advancement of racial justice through nonviolence. His six principles of nonviolence resonate with me deeply and it’s why I find immense fulfillment in Curley Company’s pro bono partnership with the Faith & Politics Institute. FPI continues the important work that must be done every day to ensure progress on these important issues where Rev. Dr. King and others like John Lewis and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth led.
Yolanda Malry, HR & Operations Administrator
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” This quote resonates with me as I always try to look at the positive side of all situations for myself. When Dr. King was leading the Civil Rights Movement, he encountered many challenges — mental, physical, and safety — and still led with love, light, and positivity to address the struggles African Americans faced. I plan to watch Rustin on Netflix to gain an additional perspective on the Civil Rights Movement.
Jennifer Curley, Founder & CEO
One of my favorite quotes attributed to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the idea that “faith is taking the first step even when you can’t (or don’t) see the whole staircase.” As a leader, there are many times I have had to be willing to just go for it (including the day I started Curley Company) and faith, courage and confidence always help me move forward.
Savannah Flagg, Communications & Public Affairs Intern
“In some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.” The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. possesses a tenacious legacy. His commitment to championing the change he wished to see truly resonates with me. His attendance at Morehouse College—a historically Black campus which promotes true brotherhood—is an important aspect of his Civil Rights journey. My alma mater — Howard University — is also a historically Black university which has elevated the work of like-minded trailblazers. This quote reassures me that with camaraderie, collectivism and the continued support of Black institutions which fuel changemakers, our world can engage in real connectivity.
Ways to Celebrate Rev. Dr. King’s Legacy & Learn More About The Civil Rights Movement
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983, but not actually observed until January 20, 1986. Beginning in 1970, many states utilized his birthday – January 15th – as an official day to recognize King’s contributions. Now, MLK Day is a federal holiday officially observed on the third Monday of January each year. Curley team members were encouraged to observe the holiday by learning something new about Rev. Dr. King and the civil rights movement. Members of the Curley team shared some of their ideas below:
TV & Film
A moving half-hour special about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, and the memorial being unveiled in Boston to honor their love and search for social justice. Produced in partnership with NBC Boston.
This documentary reveals the romantic relationship between Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr. when they met as college students and their dreams for a life of activism and family. From the beginning, they were committed to making the country a better place. Legacy of Love uses historical dramatizations, rare historic archival footage, and images of the Kings in their early years.
Rustin is the critically acclaimed film from director George C. Wolfe, starring Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. Architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Rustin challenged authority and never apologized for who he was but was forgotten despite making history. Rustin spotlights the man who, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., dared to imagine a different world and inspired a movement. The film features an all-star cast including Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.
Music
Selma Soundtrack by various artists
Songs of the Civil Rights Movement by various artists
Interactive Opportunities
Embrace Boston has an app, The Embrace Digital Experience, a self-guided app offering storytelling, first-hand accounts and historical photos and images to visitors.
The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) has been a global destination, resource center and community institution for over a quarter century.
In August 2011, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, opened to the public. Since its opening, millions of people from all walks of life have visited. The Memorial Foundation, Inc., maintained the vision that the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial would be more than a monument. The memorial would become a living space where people from all walks of life can aspire to live a life based on the principles of democracy, justice, hope, and love.
Image by NPS via Flickr
