11 Ways To Honor Dr. King On His Birthday

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11 Ways To Honor Dr. King On His Birthday - And All Year Long
by Marvin L. "Doc" Cheatham, Sr.

1. Give reverence to Martin Luther King, Jr. by sharing his contributions with at least one child. (you can visit a school and make a presentation or read books on Dr. King to the students prior to MLK Day)

2. Participate in some type of event celebrating the King Holiday such as parades, breakfast's, luncheon's etc. (Make it a family affair! Take an elderly or homebound relative or neighbor out to the festivities)

3. Either register to vote yourself and/or register at least one person to vote. (Start a drive in your community. Distribute flyers soliciting volunteers to drive those needing a ride)

4. Purchase only African-American newspapers on this day.

5. Have your clothes cleaned and/or shoes repaired at an African-American cleaners and/or shoe repair shop. (Shop owners can offer King Day discount coupons on services)

6. Eat either breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at an African-American restaurant. (Again, take others with you. Make it a family outing)

7. Purchase a book for yourself and for a child at an African-American store. (Dick Gregory's "Callus on My Soul" is a good one!)

8. Become a member of some entity that is helping others, e.g., Religious Establishment, Community Group, NAACP, Urban League, SCLC, LOC, etc. If you are a member of a community service organization, but haven't been active lately, make a commitment to become more active.

9. Celebrate Black History every month, especially the 19th of each month. Go to THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online to learn more about this concept.

10. Sign and/or read the Black National Anthem, by Phi Beta Sigma man James Weldon Johnson, and commit to having it sung at every major public event.

11. Listen to Radio One, Inc. and all other African-American owned and operated radio stations.

Phi Beta Sigma's National Director of Social Action, Marvin L. 'Doc' Cheatham, Sr. has called upon all National Pan Hellenic Council, Inc. organizations (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority) to step up to the plate and spend the King Holiday registering voters across the nation.

Hon. Marvin L. 'Doc' Cheatham, Sr. serves as National Director of Social Action, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Email him at marvincheatham@hotmail.com.


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