At Rock Point, we believe in taking a ‘day on’ instead of a ‘day off’ to honor a historical hero with as important a legacy as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, on Martin Luther King Day, students were invited to St. Michael’s College to participate in a full day of events celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. The entire student body loaded up our vans and headed to the SMC campus, where we were greeted by an admissions counselor. We heard about the college, took a tour of the campus, then joined in with their MLK Day celebration.
The first of our events was a workshop about honoring King’s legacy through children’s literature. RPS students were mixed in with college students and had the chance to read various children’s books representing children of color showing joy and resilience. Discussions centered around ‘windows and mirrors’ – the idea that children’s books allow readers to see windows into unfamiliar experiences and mirrors through which to see themselves. Next, we heard from Vernita Weller, a scholar and civil rights activist, who gave a talk about the legacy of King’s idea of a ‘beloved community.’ We were inspired by King’s commitment to love and justice, and we left thinking about how we might embody them within our community.
Our day commenced with a gospel choir performance of some of the songs that carried the civil rights movement. A Rock Point student had elected to join the performance, and seeing her sing alongside the community members of St. Mike’s was a wonderful end to our day. The staff and students at Rock Point continue to engage in efforts for equity and anti-racism and are committed to keeping the momentum going from our experience on MLK Day.