Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | Commemorating His Dream in Miami

It was freezing that day. Literally. My husband and I had flown up to Northern VA to spend Christmas with my family and made plans to spend the day doing the tourist thing in Washington, DC. My dad was our tour guide, leading us to some of his favorite places downtown: the White House, International Monetary Fund Headquarters, WWII Memorial, Natural History Museum, and a ton of things in between. Having grown up in the DC Metro area, I’d been to many of these places before. But the place that impacted me the most on that particular trip, that made the miles of preggo waddling and frigid wind chill worth it, was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.  

It was powerful and stunning, like the force that he was.  

He accomplished much in his short life, which was taken from him when he was fatally shot in Memphis, TN at the young age of 39. In a span of only 14 years, he used his influence to lead the fight for civil rights legislation and equality for African-Americans at the local, state, and federal levels. And though his life was cut so painfully short, the legacy of his dream continues to inspire hope and call for change in our society… for true freedom for every American.

The Reverend Dr. King in Miami

During the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968), Martin Luther King spent a lot of time in Miami. In fact, I recently learned that he gave an early version of his iconic I Have a Dream speech at the Historic Hampton House in 1960, where the who’s who of Black entertainers, influencers, and athletes stayed during segregation in Miami. I asked a friend of ours whose family ran the restaurant at the Hampton House if his parents knew Dr. King. His mother described him as having a presence and a seriousness about him, that he was known primarily as a reverend, and also shared memories of his ability to cut loose and laugh with friends during his many stays there.

MLK Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which falls on the third Monday of January, is an annual federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. King. And though it’s always a good time to discuss Dr. King and his dream, it’s an especially meaningful time to engage our children in discussions of his vision and what he fought for, and involve them in local opportunities to serve. 

Here are four local MLK events taking place this year:

Packed With Dignity: MLK Day of Service (Jan 19)

Hosted by YWCA South Florida, this event seeks to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through service and support for unhoused women in our community. Click here for more information and to sign up. All ages are welcome!

YMCA Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (Jan 19)

This event, sponsored by the YMCA, is an opportunity to serve our local community. RSVP here.

MLK Day Film Festival (Jan 19)

You’re invited to commemorate the life of Dr. King through film and thoughtful discussion at the Historic Hampton House Museum of Culture & Art. The movie marathon will feature 3 award-winning films: Boycott, Selma, and MLK: The Assassination Tapes. Admission is free, but an RSVP is required. Reserve your tickets here.

49th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade (Jan 19)

In 1977, Miami made history when it became the first city in the U.S. to host an MLK Day Parade! This year’s parade marks the 60th anniversary of Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech. You can also experience the parade via the MLK Parade app available in the App Store and Google Play.

Talking With Our Children

It can be challenging to discuss difficult aspects of our history with our children. But it is absolutely necessary. Here are a few books I’ve found to be useful in helping my young children understand who Dr. King was and the significance of his dream:

I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; paintings by Kadir Nelson
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson; illustrated by Frank Morrison
A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson; illustrated by Eric Velasquez
I Am the Spirit of Justice and Stories of the Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. 

–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Updated January 2026