18th Annual MLK Challenge

The third week of January, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. While MLK’s birthday is celebrated on a national level, we spend time processing why his death holds a significant importance as well. We examine the months leading up to MLK Jr.’s death, including his iconic speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” and discuss the ways in which his ideals shifted after his “I Had A Dream” speech. MLK day is a celebration of King’s birthday, and we suggest that maybe what we should really be marking is the day of his assassination.

Listen to the “We Celebrate the REAL MLK Day” podcast.

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, describe your biggest takeaways from the podcast. With “I Have A Dream” being MLK’s most famous speech, were you surprised by his shift in ideals? Do you find the idea of opinions/views shifting to still be relevant today?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

Dr. King shares the best advice he received from his mother, why we treat others wrong, and what your life's blueprint should include for a meaningful human experience. He also explains his dissatisfaction with the results that followed his famous "I Have A Dream" speech.

Listen to the “Interviews with the Dearly Departed: Martin Luther King Jr.” podcast.

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, what is the best piece of advice you have received, and how has it shaped your life? Was there anything mentioned in this episode that you want to apply to your life? If so, why?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

What's Code Switch? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for. Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor. We explore how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food, and everything in between. This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation — because we're all part of the story.

Access the NPR "Code Shift" podcast library.

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, answer the following questions: Which episode did you choose, and why did that episode stand out to you? What were the main points of the episode? What are your takeaways, and why do they matter?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

Intersectionality Matters! is a podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.

Access the "Intersectionality Matters!" podcast library.

Reflection

Which episode did you choose, and why did that episode stand out to you? What were the main points of the episode? What are your takeaways, and why do they matter?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

The United States imprisons more people than any other country in the world, and a disproportionate number of those prisoners are Black. What are the origins of the U.S. criminal justice system, and how did racism shape it? From the creation of the first penitentiaries in the 1800s, to the "tough-on-crime" prosecutors of the 1990s, how America created a culture of mass incarceration.

Listen to the "Mass Incarceration" podcast.

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, how familiar were you with the mass incarceration of the U.S. prior to listening to this episode? This is a heavy topic, so use this space to think about what this means to you, how it shapes the world around us, and ways to improve the system.

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

Did Slavery really end with the Civil War? The documentary "Slavery by Another Name" explores how, in the years following the Emancipation Proclamation, systematic approaches were taken to re-enslave newly freed Blacks in the United States. This system included new brutal methods of forced labor in which men were arrested and forced to work without pay, bought and sold, and coerced to do the bidding of masters.

Spanning the 60 years following the Civil War, this 90-minute documentary includes interviews with key Black history scholars like Khalil Muhammad, Mary Ellen Curtin, Risa Goluboff, and Adam Green, in addition to moving reactions from descendants of both victims and perpetrators of the forced labor system. Giving voice to the thousands of victims from this period, "Slavery by Another Name" will challenge assumptions that slavery ended 150 years ago.

Watch the "Slavery by Another Name" documentary.

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, answer the following questions: In an educational system where we are taught that slavery ended along with the Civil War, was this information surprising? Why do you think students are not taught the whole truth in history? Why does learning about this still matter today?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

"I Am Not Your Negro" is a journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter. It is a film that questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond. And, ultimately, by confronting the deeper connections between the lives and assassination of these three leaders, Baldwin and Peck have produced a work that challenges the very definition of what America stands for.

Watch the "I Am Not Your Negro" documentary. (You need a library card to access this film.)

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, answer the following: What information in this documentary was surprising? What are the similarities and differences between the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter? Do you think movements like these will continue?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.

"White Like Me," based on the work of acclaimed anti-racist educator and author Tim Wise, explores race and racism in the U.S. through the lens of whiteness and white privilege. In a stunning reassessment of the American ideal of meritocracy and claims that we've entered a post-racial society, Wise offers a fascinating look back at the race-based white entitlement programs that built the American middle class, and argues that our failure as a society to come to terms with this legacy of white privilege continues to perpetuate racial inequality and race-driven political resentments today.

Watch the "White Like Me" documentary. (You need a library card to access this film.)

Reflection

In a short written or recorded reflection, answer the following: How do the topics in this documentary connect to life in America for people of different races? Did you learn of any privileges you do/do not have? What were your biggest takeaways, and why do they matter?

Submit your reflection to the MLK Challenge participation tracking form.