West Virginia (WOAY) As communities across the nation observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a new blog post from the West Virginia and Regional History Center (WVRHC) is highlighting Dr. King’s connection to the Mountain State.
In a blog originally written in 2015, WVRHC Director Lori Hostuttler reflects on Dr. King’s life, legacy, and message of nonviolence, justice, and service.
She further notes that Dr. King spoke in Charleston 65 years ago this week.
On January 24, 1960, Dr. King delivered a sermon at First Baptist Church in Charleston, addressing a packed congregation.
During his speech, he spoke about the importance of integration beyond desegregation, urging people to live together not because of laws, but because it is right.
Dr. King also called for forgiveness, reconciliation, and action, encouraging people to work toward mutual respect and first-class citizenship without resorting to hate or violence.
Hostuttler writes that while progress has been made since Dr. King visited West Virginia, many of the issues he spoke about, including race, poverty, and justice still require continued effort today.
She echoes Coretta Scott King’s message that Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be more than a day of remembrance, but a day of service and action.
You can read Hotsuttler’s blog post at news.lib.wvu.edu.
