Yesterday was an important holiday dedicated to one of the most important figures in the civil rights era. That man is none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was one of the driving forces behind desegregation and black rights. He made one of his most famous speeches, the “I have a dream speech”, in Washington D.C. Despite the frigid weather, the community in DC still continued on with the annual MLK, Jr. Day Parade. The parade lasted from 11 am to 6 pm, ending with festivities. There were other parades outside of the capital city, specifically in Memphis, where MLK, Jr. did his last speech before he was assassinated. There, a celebration was held at City Hall. Ten women were honored there for their work in health care, education, and other fields in the area. The parades help show the pride and spirit of MLK’s message through street performances. Even to this day, racism and discrimination exists. However, with commemorating the spirit of MLK, Jr. and his message, such an issue will be minimized, one step at a time.

Image courtesy of wtop.com