By Torben Heinbockel ’26
On January 22nd, 2024, The St. Paul’s Schools held the annual King’s Vision Day (KVD). This day honored the legacy of the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King symbolized racial integration and equality, nonviolent protest, and the belief that all people can equally share in the earth’s “beloved community”. He criticized economic inequality, U.S. foreign policy, and the Vietnam War, making him a target for threats, arrests, and FBI surveillance. Dr. King’s vision of social integration and a fair society challenged entrenched norms of racial segregation and discrimination.
On April 4th, 1968, Dr. King was assassinated by James Earl Ray while standing on a balcony outside his room in Memphis, Tennessee. His death spurred major outbreaks of racial violence, resulting in more than 40 deaths across the country and massive property damage in over 100 cities. While the nation marks Dr. King’s birthday with a national holiday every third Monday in January, The St. Paul’s Schools devotes a school day for students to reflect on related topics and issues that Dr. King spent his life spreading awareness for. Every year, KVD has a corresponding theme that relates to the current issues important to the St. Paul’s school community. Last year, the theme was DREAM (“Diversity, Reflection, Equality, Action, and Movement”), while this year’s theme focused on RISE (“Respect Individuality, Support, and Empower”).
On January 22nd, students gathered in their specified movie classrooms to have a pre-discussion with a student presenter before watching the movie they selected. There were 22 movies to choose from, 40 student presenters, and 22 faculty advisors. The films shown on KVD day centered on the following identities: black and African American, Asian Pacific Islander, South Asian, Latino, LGBTQIA+), adopted experience, neurodivergent, learning differences, disparities in social class and/or disability. Following the screening, student presenters led a discussion focused on exchanging ideas through dialogue rather than debate. The lead presenters asked post-movie questions, such as “What message do you think the movie is trying to convey? Why do the themes for this movie matter in today’s world? How was gender inequality portrayed in this movie? Was there any scene or character of the movie that resonated with you?”
The author leading discussion during King's Vision Day.
Ms. Vicky Wang, St. Paul’s School for Girl’s Upper School and Middle School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, shared her perspective on King’s Vision Day. She explained that KVD is a day to learn about the experiences of marginalized communities and to facilitate discussions on topics around social justice. “It’s been a day on which I’ve learned and heard so much from people who may not share the same background or identity as me, and I really value the experience tremendously.” Ms. Wang remarked that MLK’s vision for the world is “to build an equitable world for all people.” Ms. Wang knows many students who have taken what they have learned from KVD and “led discussions and actively learned from each other,” ultimately leading to a more inclusive and respectful environment at The St. Paul’s Schools.
Mr. Donnie Williams, St. Paul’s School for Boys Upper School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader, felt that KVD gives students “an opportunity to engage in dialogue surrounding social justice, love, acceptance, as well as diversity, overall.” Mr. Williams commented that “young boys and young girls…of all sorts of creeds, colors, and cultures…[should] be standing around, and holding hands in unity.” He feels that it is crucial to celebrate KVD because “Martin Luther King represents what God wanted for the world [in terms of] unity, love, and equality [and] to make sure that we are looking out for our brothers and sisters.” He mentioned that countless SP alums have told him that KVD has prepared them for some of their college classes. Mr. Williams feels that such students will tend to “grow more empathetic and explore ways to contribute to a more equitable world.”
Within King’s Vision Day, there are lessons and experiences learned that will influence plans for expanding and enhancing future celebrations. Ms. Wang said that “by incorporating a more robust presentation and discussion session along with the movie viewing experience, we hope to deepen students’ understanding of the mission and vision of Dr. King.” Mr. Williams remarked that “tensions between evil and good” that arise in many of the movies presented on KVD day, will help students to better interact and create diversity. Furthermore, he noted that of the many films presented this year, “were more diverse than any other year. Five movies were in different languages [and had] themes surrounding gender and sexuality, [as well as] interracial relationships. The goal was to have movies that all students could connect with.”
Overall, KVD was an enormous success again this year, 40 students helped with the creation of this special day. KVD is student-led: students chose the movies, created their own presentations, designed the t-shirts, and made presentations. As a result of this year’s KVD, students gained a better understanding of the diversity, equality, inclusion, and justice issues facing our world today. In closing, it is worth keeping in mind a phrase that stems from African American memoirist, poet, civil rights activist, and three-time Grammy award winner, Maya Angelou, that has a bearing on this important day: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”