Commemoration for Martin Luther King Jr Day at RKYHS was across the disciplines and complete with programs to provide meaning to the day. RKYHS history classes participated in a program that allowed them to explore the meaning of MLK’s teachings and apply them to modern times, discuss what we can do to stand up to racism and make a personal resolution for how they will fight racism. This last component was turned into a digital mosaic collage. Judaic studies classes explored the intersection between the Civil Rights Movement and Judaic sources, as well as the role Jews played in the movement. English classes conducted a rhetorical analysis of MLK’s speeches.

Additionally, for last Friday’s SEED speaker, students heard from Reverend Jacques Andre DeGraff, who spoke to the students about how meeting King Jr. as an adolescent inspired him to pursue a life of activism. He told students that he’s seen what happens when good people are silent. They need to get together to affect change. Be active in voter registration and protect the right to vote, be careful of what you read and listen to, and step out and expose yourself to new ideas—pick up a book. Reverend Degraff also offered additional ways that students can rededicate themselves to the principles of love, justice and freedom and bridge gaps for the two communities to work together towards common goals.