The Detroit MLK Day Committee is comprised of a group of individuals dedicated to the promotion of peace and a non-violent way of life. We recognized that, from a social justice point of view, MLK Day is arguably the most important national holiday of the calendar year and that there was not a major grassroots event that celebrated the meaning of this day in the city of Detroit. So, we came together to create an event within the city where the ideas and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. could reach persons in the metro Detroit area who otherwise may not be exposed to the powerful and still-pertinent message of Dr. King.

To date, the Detroit MLK Committee has successfully organized three Detroit MLK Day celebrations which reached approximately 700-1000 persons each year.

In 2006, the first efforts at organizing “Beyond MLK Day” community service projects and discussion events were initiated.

Detroit MLK Day is designed to reach residents of Detroit and the surrounding metro area, with a concentrated focus on the youth. Previous Detroit MLK Day celebrations have drawn ethnically diverse persons from a broad range of backgrounds and communities.

The Cultural Arts Exhibition aspect of the event is specifically targeted toward Detroit public, charter and private schools, grades 4th through 12th. The purpose of the exhibition is to have the teachers engage the students in discussions about Dr. King and his messages. The students then create essays, art and music which carry Dr. King’s messages into the current state of the world, as the students see it. Selections of student submissions are featured during the event. This aspect of Detroit MLK Day has been very successful in allowing a culturally diverse group of youth, their teachers, as well as their families to be engaged in this event and well-steeped in the ideas and principles put forth by Dr. King.

In return, the event is tremendously enriched by the hope, insight and energy exuded by the youth participants. Similarly, Detroit middle and high school marching bands and drumlines have been invited to participate in the day’s events, including the march, which has broadened the scope of attendees.

Detroit MLK Day also draws political figures who personally intermingle with the attendees during the march and rally. Notably, in 2006, Governor Granholm appeared, spoke a powerful message of community service, and then marched with the attendees. In the year preceding, Senator Stabenow and Congressman Conyers made a similar appearance. Several members of the Detroit City Council have also been active in this event.