Golden Rule: Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today. 

Come with me as we honor Martin Luther King Day by highlighting a lesser known Civil Rights Activist husband and wife duo who made a huge impact on Black Floridian's.

Victims: Harry and Harriet Moore
Suspects: Ku Klux Klan

Case Sources
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/the-groveland-four-1949/

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/moore-home-bombed/

httpshttps://www.npr.org/2022/02/01/1076141993/black-history-harry-hariette-moore

https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/harry-t-and-hariette-moore

https://www.biography.com/activists/harry-t-moore-timeline-accomplishments-artifacts

https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/harry-t-moore-harriette-v-moore-notice-close-file

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/02/23/brevard-school-board-acknowledges-unjust-firing-civil-rights-leaders/4554057001/

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/01/1076141993/black-history-harry-hariette-moore

https://www.newspapers.com/
https://www.pbs.org/harrymoore/harry/mbio.html

https://www.holidaysmart.com/holidays/monthly/january/personal-self-defense-awareness-month

https://www.wucf.org/community/themooreproject/the-investigators/

https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/harry-t-moore-harriette-v-moore-notice-close-file

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/harriette-vyda-simms-moore-1902-1952/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6820079/harry-t-moore

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6820096/harriette-vyda-moore

Cue the fireworks and bring on the confetti; we're celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Yes, I recognize celebrating a 33rd anniversary is a bit odd. Still, considering the hard-fought battle to have the only "King" we recognize honored with a national holiday, I think it's worth celebrating this historic milestone.

In this bonus episode, we are recognizing the movers and shakers like Congressman John Conyers, Stevie Wonder, and even the National Football League (yes, they actually put their money behind the cause) who didn't make it into our history books but played an essential role in advocating for this historic piece of legislation. 

This episode has some surprising tidbits like:

1. How our favorite version of the "Happy Birthday" song written by Stevie Wonder helped mobilize the movement
2. President Ronald Reagan's reluctance to sign the bill into law.
3. How Martin Luther King Day became recognized as a National Holiday in ALL 50 states in 2000 #sideye #southcarolina

Episode Highlights

• [00:01:09]Calling all Cliff Notes readers, listen here as I share an overview of today's episode and how the events of the late 60s still plague us today.
• [00:05:07] Detroit vs. Everybody became a slogan in the mid-2000s, but the Great State of Michigan, The National Black Caucus, and The King Family advocated for decades; here's a little known black history fact about Congressman John Conyers and his mission to make MLK Day a federal holiday.
• [00:06:17] Ever wondered why Stevie Wonder wrote his version of The Happy Birthday Song? Tune in as I explain the cultural significance of those lyrics that we tend to "mumble through." --Bet you'll want to learn the whole song after listening to this episode (smile).
• [00:06:48] It's no secret that Dr. King delivered his renowned I Have A Dream Speech on the National Mall. But did you know that another historic rally took place in his honor? The Rally For Peace, organized by his family and famous supporters like Stevie Wonder, played a significant role in establishing MLK Day. Tune in to learn more.
• [00:08:17] Fifteen years after Congressman Conyers introduced the bill, six million petition signatures later, the bill was again denied. Tune into this episode to learn why and who was holding out!
• [00:09:18] President Ronald Reagan signed MLK Day into law on November 02, 1983, but he wasn't happy about it--hear what President "Make America Great Again" volume one had to say.
• [00:10:39] Do you remember the first time you saw MLK Day celebrated as a National Holiday? Truth bomb: it was MANY years after the bill was enacted. This part of history definitely wasn't in your textbooks, but you'll find it on this podcast!
• [00:10:44] The NFL is known for many things, but Civil Rights Activism isn't one. Still, we give credit where it's due. Learn how the NFL shut down the state of Arizona for its resistance to making MLK Day a holiday.
• [00:13:44] Wondering when all 50 states finally recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day? The fight that began four days after his assassination ended in 2000 when South Carolina recognized MLK day as a state holiday.
• [00:17:23] If you love this episode, let me share a few ways you can help us get this much-needed dose of history into more AirPods!
• [00:18:10] Tune into the next episode, which is all about the Chinese New Year

Put down that stuffy, boring textbook, grab your earbuds, and get into the most lit history lesson EVER!

Research Information:

• https://www.ywcastpaul.org/mlk-economic-equality/
• https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/15-year-battle-martin-luther-king-jr-day
• https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/john-conyers-and-the-uphill-battle-honor-mlk-birthday/Dx8jhl0KJANrvMAZ9ApUCO/
• https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/how-martin-luther-king-jr-s-birthday-became-a-holiday-3#:~:text=Representative%20John%20Conyers%20introduced%20the,of%20Representative's%20floor%20in%201979.
• https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/stevie-wonder-happy-birthday-song/
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/01/16/25000-march-for-king/017c450c-4f16-4b15-a685-5c3664772062/
• https://calendar.songfacts.com/january/20/19335

Stay in Touch:

Visit our website. Follow the podcast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and feel free to donate. To learn more about the podcast host Toya, visit ToyaFromHarlem.com. Connect with Toya on Instagram and Twitter, or buy her a coffee.

The episode was researched and scripted by host Latoya Coleman (Toya From Harlem).

STAY IN TOUCH:

• Visit our website. 
• Follow  and tag @thatwasntinmytextbook on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and feel free to donate. 
• Sign up for podcast newsletter 
• To learn more about the podcast host Toya, visit ToyaFromHarlem.com. Connect with Toya on Instagram and Twitter, or buy her a coffee.

EPISODE CREDITS:
Research and scripted by host Latoya Coleman (@ToyaFromHarlem).
Edited and Mixed by Julius Shepard-Morgan
Music Licensed through Epidemic Sound

Welcome to our chat from the screen porch about garden and nature stories that help heal and grow our lives.

Martin Luther King's Day honors a great man. In preparation, I dug through the internet maze to learn more about the advocate of equality, looking for a connection to gardens or nature to share with you today. Along with that comes a reflection you will enjoy.

https://askmarystone.com/coretta-scott-king-forest/

I look forward to sharing more stories that come from you, kind listeners. You can email me at AskMaryStone@gmail.com

And Follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook and Instagram #MaryElaineStone

Episode web page —Garden Dilemmas Podcast Page

Thank you for sharing the garden of life,

Mary Stone, Columnist & Garden Designer

Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.com

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.com
Direct Link to Podcast Page

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 15. If Dr. King was still alive today, what would he think of the progress of the black community? How far have we come toward racial equality since the civil rights era? Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard professor and filmmaker, says there have been both steps forward, and steps backward. While America elected its first African American president, the number of black men behind bars is five times the number of white men. African American superstars like Oprah and Michael Jordan have emerged, but the class divide in the black community has deepened. Gates speaks with Aspen Institute President Walter Isaacson.

Find our companion episode, "Race and History," by clicking here. Follow our show on Twitter @aspenideas and Facebook at facebook.com/aspenideas. Email your comments to aspenideastogo@gmail.com.

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