Martin Luther King Jr. Day Special

Skimm'd while staying focused — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today January 15, 2024 [Subscribe]( [Read in browser]( [theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm Skimm'd while [staying focused]( [Update location]( or [View forecast]( theSkimm With Vicki Crawford, the Woman Entrusted With Approximately 10,000 of MLK’s Personal Items Credit card receipts, correspondence with world leaders, and 1000-plus books. Those are just some of the things in [Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Collection](, a repository of approximately 10,000 of King’s personal items that the college acquired in 2006. To learn more about the collection and what it tells about King, we spoke to [Vicki Crawford, PhD](, a professor of Africana Studies at Morehouse and the collection’s director for about 15 years. Here’s what she had to say… Q: What are some of the most interesting items in the collection? Our students get a really big kick out of looking at his transcript — and seeing that he was not a straight-A student, but an average student in college … I also think some of the rather mundane things are very interesting, like drafts of sermons or just little notes. Those kinds of things are simple, yet, you can see how just drafting a little note on a program might later become the text of a sermon … [You] get a sense of the ordinariness of his life — that he was like you and I. He was an ordinary person in one sense, but on the other hand, he was extraordinary by being so discerning and … being able to produce this oratory and written material that is so prophetic and still speaks to us today. Q: Which object or document in the collection do you personally find most important or moving? I’m really drawn to the lecture he gave when he received the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s called “The Quest for Peace and Justice” … [and I find it to be] one of the most moving pieces in the collection because much of what he had to say over 50 years ago is still relevant today. He warns us about what he calls the triple evils: racism, materialism, militarism. He also tells us about the importance of shared humanity … And he speaks about — in that lecture and also in one of his final books — the interconnectedness of human beings. That really resonates with me, particularly given the work I do with young people and students. Q: Has anything you’ve learned from the collection surprised you? That he could enjoy a good Southern meal — and that comes out in some of the correspondence with different people. I go back to him walking among the people, which also comes out in all kinds of correspondence — and yet, at the same time, being a global figure. Initially, I was surprised by his great interest in Africa. He closely followed what was going on in South Africa. On his way to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, he even stopped in London to deliver a speech about apartheid, speaking out against it. But he never got a chance to go because he could not get a visa … There’s a lot of complexity to who he was. King wrote an advice column for Ebony magazine in 1957, so people wrote asking all sorts of things and he would answer them … And he [also] had a radio show. I believe he delivered radio sermons on the first African American-owned radio station here in Atlanta, called WERD. Q: You’re currently doing a lot of work to expose teachers and educators to the collection. Why is that? That’s real, important work considering what we’re facing now in this country with book bans. And with these attempts to constrain the teaching of African American history. [Working with teachers and students] introduces a younger generation to the life and times of King and a period in American history where segregation was legal and the law of the land … I also conduct oral history interviews with people who were there. We’ve got a number of those, including ones with King’s sister [Christine King Farris], [Julian Bond](, and [Vincent Harding, PhD](... [The collection] is a lesson in participatory democracy: understand the vital role you play. We have agency in terms of shaping the world to come, and we must be reminded of that. So, a collection like this — which is full of all sorts of materials, like original sermons, speeches, letters, minutes of meetings, you name it — shows us what people were saying and what they were doing. And in a way, a textbook doesn’t do that. Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=Morehouse College is home to approximately 10,000 of MLK’s personal items. Vicki Crawford gives us a tour #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) ASK SKIMM HQ’RS [A woman tutors a teenager.] Something you might not know: MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as [a national day of service](. Meaning, Americans are encouraged to observe the holiday by making a positive impact on their community. We asked staff at Skimm HQ to share some of the ways they’ve given back to communities near and far... Julie Alvin, senior vice president of content: “I donate to [Focus: Hope](, a Detroit organization that’s committed to using ‘intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty, and injustice, and to build a metropolitan community where all people may live in freedom, harmony, trust and affection.’ I’m also on the board of [Friends of Kenyan Orphans]( — which provides housing, education, and support to orphaned girls in Kenya. The conditions these children are born into are unimaginable, but their spirit and resilience are incredibly inspiring.” Anna Davies, money writer: “This past fall, I signed up for a local [Dialogue on Race]( seminar with members of my community. [They’re] two-hour sessions, in which people of all ages, demographics, and lived experiences gather to discuss readings, racism, and the necessary next steps for creating a more equitable community. While the conversations were challenging, it’s something I’m really glad to have done. So much so that I’m training to be a facilitator this spring. I also regularly speak at our local city council meetings about issues pertaining to the community … I believe change and action comes from showing up and speaking up.” Nina Moll, associate brand strategist: “I volunteer for [Project Healthy Minds](. The nonprofit’s mission is to destigmatize mental health and provide valuable resources to all. It’s been an amazing way to meet other people who are passionate about changing the way we talk, learn, and deal with mental health.” Kareemah Sellers, brand strategy manager: “I work with two nonprofits in Philly that I love: [Jazzy Lady Mentoring]( empowers young Black girls by providing them with the skills, resources, and support needed to achieve their dreams. I volunteer at its annual oratorical contest, which allows young girls to express their voice and art to a mass audience. [The other org is] [The PLUG](, which organizes on-the-ground assistance — like resources and services — for collectives and individuals that are empowering underserved and under-resourced communities.” Mary Westermann, operations associate: “When I lived in North Carolina, I volunteered for [The No Woman, No Girl Initiative](, a nonprofit in Raleigh dedicated to providing a 30- or 45-day supply of hygiene essentials — from toothpaste to tampons — to local women and girls experiencing a crisis or going through a transition period. Now that I live in New Jersey, I continue to shop its Amazon wishlist.” theskimm beta We’re building a tool to help you cross off the to-dos keeping you up at night. Meet [theSkimm Beta](, a space where you can learn how to [manage your debt]( and [get more pleasure](. Check it out. Skimm Picks Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life… 1. Greens that align with your 2024 goals. 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We can't resist a [cleaning hack](. Especially if it looks as good as this [magnetic rack]( that attaches right to your fridge door. [Check them out]( Psst…love our recs? Follow [@skimmshopping]( on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag). Skimm'd by: Rasheeda Campbell, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos courtesy of Vicki Crawford, Morehouse College, [SDI Productions]( via Getty Images, Brand Partners Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? 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