Earlier in my career, I worked at a school just outside of Wilmington DE, and I lived in Center City, Philadelphia. While working and living in the Mid-Atlantic region, I discovered that region celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s holiday in a way that is very different from what is typical in New England. Adults and children, supported by businesses and schools, actively celebrate Dr. King’s legacy in myriad ways, with most adults engaging in a day of service – volunteering their time and treasure to help others in the community. I was moved by this and as Head of School, have tried to bring this sense of action to BHS. This Monday brings an opportunity to consider Dr. King’s life and work, his message, and how we can help to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice.
Tomorrow, we will not spend a day off, doing whatever we should choose – we will spend time together as a community. In our time together, our students will be entertained, as they will be watching movies and eating pizza. But they will also be challenged to think about the actions of the characters in these movies. They will hopefully recognize that an “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and that in time, they will emerge as morally strong citizens and leaders.
It is true that we could do more, but it is also true that we could do nothing. Like Dr. King said, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” On Monday, we will keep moving forward!