The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Although one federal day is dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vast accomplishments and contributions to the history of the United States, his legacy is undeniably present in all facets of social justice and the pursuit of educational equity. To truly honor Dr. King’s legacy is to continue the conversation and action of civil rights and social justice.

Beginning with history lessons in the classroom, Martin Luther King, Jr. is a luminary, with his achievements documented in history books. His leadership during the Civil Rights Movement cultivated change, while his iconic speeches connected to people at their core, igniting an internal fire that propelled citizens into action. Yet, with all of the important triumphs that were made for civil rights, we continue to face issues of social justice and inequity.

Christopher Busey, an Assistant Professor of Curriculum, Teaching, and Teacher Education, notes that an issue with the history presented in schools is that, "while we would hope that his inclusion in curriculum throughout the country would result in a more just society, King’s efforts are sanitized to fit within a master narrative of social progress in the U.S."

“K-12 curriculum avoids the controversial aspects of history and citizenship, choosing instead to focus on stale narratives of heroism and democracy.” This, Busey argues, “neglect[s] many of the messy and deplorable aspects of our history as well as present day society.”

Ultimately, what is presented about Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement offers only a glimpse into the long, arduous struggle for justice that was endured, doing a disservice to Dr. King's vision and what he dedicated his life to fight for.

Education  is considered the cornerstone of a democratic society and is frequently viewed as a "ladder of opportunity" that will allow students to transcend barriers. Yet, educational settings are also venues for politics to interplay with diversity in language, culture, race, and socioeconomic status. The fight for equality and equity was underscored by access to education and resources, with the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling the desegregation of schools and sparking the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.

Mario Worlds, a doctoral candidate in the School of Teaching and Learning, spoke on the importance of the civil rights legacy for education, noting, “our schools usually reflect the social and political climate of our country and our world. Dr. King was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement and many of the changes that have occurred within education are a direct result of people like him and the social changes they fought for...

“Social change is really embedded within this recursive cycle where the world outside of school and education continually influences one another. Things that happen in the world impact the way we teach, what we teach, why we teach, etc. Conversely, school has and continues to represent a site where students learn how to address issues of injustice and equity outside of school. So, when I think of education, I immediately think of the pioneers of social justice like Dr. King and others.”

The struggle for social justice continues today, and Dr. King serves as an inspiration to continue to engage in these tough conversations. Beginning this dialogue is not without its difficulty, but we can look to educators who continue to make effort and engage in critical discourse for perspective as we address issues of inequity that persist in education and society as a whole. 

Busey notes that major issues of, “inequitable curricular representations, disproportionate disciplinary measures, and the underfunding of schools with majority Black and Latinx populations” need to be addressed so we can begin to resolve them.

Our current challenge is to advance conversations that move the national needle further toward equity in schools and society. 

Worlds elaborated on the necessity of dialogue when addressing social justice issues, saying 

"Education is thought of as politically neutral when it is anything but. It is far from that. It is messy, it's complicated, and it can be scary to address serious issues of equity. But, we have to be willing to engage in critical discourse, no matter how messy or uncomfortable it is, if we hope to ever solve the pressing issues within education."

“I think we start there. Conversations must be had. Once we are willing to have these conversations, and do so honestly and critically, then we can move on to policy and legislation so that the conversations lead to concrete actions."

An impediment to that conversation is what Busey identifies as “[w]e are conditioned and socialized as youth to avoid critical conversations regarding matters of social justice... In my opinion, this is the primary barrier as we must get past the discomfort of addressing societal issues…"

“I think we—speaking collectively as educators and citizens—have to want to engage in the conversation. Our political viewpoints often serve as barriers to the conversation. We have to be open to dialogue and oppositional viewpoints, so long as the humanity of individuals affected by social justice issues is foregrounded in the conversation.”

At Florida Gulf Coast University, the topic of race was brought into the higher education setting when a sociology course focused on issues of white privilege and the structures upholding racism was offered this spring. The course became a point of controversy and contention, with security brought in as preventative a safety measure. The response to this course serves as an example of the difficulty that arises when we begin addressing issues, as well as highlighting how important it is to continue to engage in this discourse.

Elizabeth Washington, a professor and coordinator of the social studies education program, commented on this event, saying “as a white educator who cares deeply about social justice and equality, I try to challenge my students, most of whom are white, with critical and controversial material that is omitted in the typical school curriculum. I also try to be mindful of how to do this so that students feel they can join in productive and compassionate discourse.”

The responsibility we have as citizens to assist in the transformation of inequitable systems and structures so they become more inclusive is illuminated by the role of educators relentless in the pursuit of providing education.

Worlds reflected, "I want my teaching and pedagogy to always reflect a social justice stance. I hope to engage in community involvement and work with community members and leaders to continue to identify issues that impact our students and develop solutions to help overcome those issues,

“Additionally, I hope that my scholarship always reflects a dedication and commitment to achieving equity for all students. Whether I'm looking at school funding, disciplinary trends practices, or literacy achievement, I hope that my beliefs about social justice are always embedded in everything that I do."

There is a period of time, complete with a beginning, middle, and end, that is associated to the civil rights movement, but as we examine issues that persist in social justice and education it is clear that the civil rights movement has not ended. In today’s diverse and global environment, it is increasingly critical to identify, examine, and discuss these structures--especially on days that are dedicated to individuals such as Martin Luther King, Jr. The ongoing work that needs to be done, and the work that is currently being done by dedicated educators, is representative of the movement to which Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life.