For many around the nation Monday (Jan. 15) was a day of reflection, action and marching in the streets to recall and celebrate the legacy of civil rights icon Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The national holiday might also serve as a time to remember King’s message of reconciliation and understanding, especially in light of the latest racially charged comments attributed to Pres. Trump, who just days before reportedly referred to people from Haiti and some Central American and African nations as coming from “shithole countries.”
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While Trump defended himself on Sunday (Jan. 14) by telling reporters “I am not a racist,” the international fallout and widespread condemnation for the latest racial provocation from the president was a further reminder that the work started by Dr. King six decades ago is not yet complete.
In celebration of King’s legacy a number of prominent singers, directors, actors and civil rights figures including Common, Ava Du Vernay, Maxwell, Kirk Franklin and others took to Twitter to honor the national holiday.
Good Morning! Happy #MLKDay to everyone! Have a #blessed day! https://t.co/9aKGIi0Fr9
— COMMON (@common) January 15, 2018
Relevant. Revelatory. Revolutionary. #MLKDay #MLKNow https://t.co/kDLqpqqgcD
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 15, 2018
“I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Happy Birthday to one of the greatest inspirations this world has seen. #MLK pic.twitter.com/1k2n5filJD
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) January 15, 2018
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-MLK. #trylove
— Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin) January 15, 2018
“I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King, Jr. On #MLK day I think back to the time I got to visit this place where this amazing man stood. Let’s remember LOVE today and always pic.twitter.com/sOGeNJS8B5
— Leona Lewis (@leonalewis) January 15, 2018
Happy birthday, #MLK. Thank you for being a transformed nonconformist. Still…”This hour in history needs a dedicated circle of transformed nonconformists.” #MLKDay #MLK50Forward pic.twitter.com/fjzziFSrMu
— The King Center (@TheKingCenter) January 15, 2018
Happy MLK day!!!!
— reggie watts (@reggiewatts) January 15, 2018
Happy MLK day xo pic.twitter.com/G3qSA5foWN
— Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) January 15, 2018
happy birthday — to the speaker of social injustice ||| capricorn #mlk pic.twitter.com/viLjOOqOVh
— MAXWELL (@_MAXWELL_) January 15, 2018
For MLK Day thinking a double feature of Hidden Figures and Get Out kinda sums up where we’re at
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) January 15, 2018
As you honor my father today, please remember and honor my mother, as well. She was the architect of the King Legacy and founder of @TheKingCenter, which she founded two months after Daddy died. Without #CorettaScottKing, there would be no #MLKDay. #MLK50Forward #MLK pic.twitter.com/qhwSnX9Qmh
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 15, 2018
I”m sure MLK would be proud you found a way to make discrimination legal in Indiana by pretending Christ was as big a homophobe as yourself. Happy MLK day to all the anti-labor, war-supporting, racist-POTUS-enablers; may empathy one day become contagious. https://t.co/bZep0j7Pcd
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) January 15, 2018
Filming SVU on this MLK day…… It’s cool. Happy to have a job.
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) January 15, 2018
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: How Stevie Wonder Fought—and Won—for MLK Day https://t.co/qxPbsY4Mhi via @VH1
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) January 15, 2018