JANUARY 16, 2024

The Lower School community gathered in assembly to focus on and learn about ways we can put Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of his beloved community into action. With the help of Class III actors, the Lower School watched several skits that included examples of how we can live in a beloved community at school. Inspired by leaders both from Dr. King’s time and today, Maeve B., Vivi H., Charlotte H., Caroline K., and Safira V. acted out each scene, highlighting the key themes such as to “Be brave like Ruby Bridges,” “Make good trouble like John Lewis,” “Organize like Ella Baker, “Keep going like Mari Copeny,” and “Care for yourself like Simone Biles.” Following the skits, students enjoyed a read-aloud of All Are Neighbors by Alexandra Penfold. To conclude assembly, students received a prompt for conversation to continue in their homeroom, and jotted down their thoughts on index cards to go on a bulletin board on the fourth floor.

At the Middle School assembly, Beatrice ’28 and Ryan A. ’28 reflected on their class trip to Washington, D.C.; particularly a moment when they stood where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, just outside of the Lincoln Memorial. “Today’s assembly is to help all of us understand more about his dream, and hope to also make it ours,” they said.

Throughout the assembly, student presenters read quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—specifically quotes that were not from his “I Have a Dream” speech, and also highlighted Dr. King’s Beloved Community.

“‘At the dawn of the twenty-first century, we have a historic opportunity for a great global healing and renewal. If we will accept the challenge of nonviolent activism with faith, courage, and determination, we can bring this great vision of a world united in peace and harmony from a distant ideal into a glowing reality,’" Tess said, quoting Coretta Scott King.

During their assembly time, Upper School students met in their respective homerooms and watched a PBS film, “The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Civil Rights Movement,” and then discussed essential questions following the film: 1) To what degree did the actions and beliefs of individual activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr. drive the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement as a whole? 2) How can our community come together to address systemic issues and work towards a more inclusive society and in our immediate environment, considering King's emphasis on unity? 3) In what ways can young people today actively engage in social justice issues, drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.'s activism?