Furman’s 2021 MLK Celebration – Opportunities for Reflection

Last updated January 14, 2021

Reflection is a tool that can help you become more self-aware and apprised of issues that impact our community. For the week of January 18 – 22, there are multiple ways that you can reflect on the impact of Dr. King’s legacy and how you plan to invest in your communities by emulating Dr. King’s approach to service, activism and justice.

If you prefer to reflect privately, you can engage in the following ways:

Write an entry in your journal.
Write a poem.
Take a silent walk in nature.
Draw a picture or paint.
Play or create music.
Meditate.

If you prefer to reflect with others, you can have intentional conversations:

In pairs (with someone in your pod or on Zoom).
In small group discussions (with peers or colleagues in your pod or on Zoom).
On your social media account. You can share your thoughts about one of the reflection prompts below and ask others to contribute as well.

Below are some areas upon which you can reflect individually or with others:

As the week begins, write about or discuss what you hope to learn. As the week progresses or concludes, think about what you want to do with this knowledge. How do you plan to invest in your communities to promote equity and justice? Why is it important to do so? Create a realistic action plan.
Write about or discuss a critical incident (i.e., a transformative experience that caused some type of awakening or growth in awareness), what happened during this moment, and how it informed your current perspective on serving others and honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
If you participate in one of the week’s events (e.g., panel discussion, anti-racism workshop), write about or discuss what you learned and why this matters. What do you now plan to do with this knowledge?
Throughout the week, write about or discuss the following:
- What can I do at Furman to be more inclusive and to serve others? Think about smaller gestures to larger efforts. Why is it important to engage with others on campus about equity and inclusivity.
- How would you respond to the question that Dr. King once posed, “’What are you doing for others?”
- What does community service mean to you? Do you currently serve a particular cause or organization? What motivates you do to so?
- Is your service performative in nature (i.e., completing service to show others that you’ve done it, without fully embracing or supporting the cause)? How can you move beyond performing to serving as a true ally or activist
- What does it mean to be an active citizen? How can you become a more active citizen in your community?
- What holds you back from engaging in community service and active citizenship? How can you overcome these obstacles?
- Where do you need to grow? How can the lessons of Dr. King inform or inspire these areas of growth?
- What organizations or causes are you passionate about serving and promoting? How can you transfer this passion into action in the future?