Revisiting Dr. Martin Luther King’s teachings on love and compassion in the wake of senseless violence and growing societal despair

As Covid-19 continues unabated, certain parts of our society seem to be plunging further & further into anxiety & despair. Many are going hungry, while others are at risk of their businesses and livelihoods going under. To add insult to injury, we have also learned about senseless violence in Georgia with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery by two white gunmen who profiled him. How can we lament these losses — all of which are existential in nature — without descending into nihilism and becoming the thing we hate?

We’ll probe the answer by studying snippets of an essay Dr. King wrote in 1961 entitled, ‘Love, Law, and Civil Disobedience.’ In this piece, Dr. King emphasizes the imperative to deal with our sorrows in a way that is ultimately rooted in love and concern for our fellow man — including, most especially, for our enemies. After all, no matter how difficult things become, we must always remember that, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” 

THE WEEKLY ROUNDUP


Welcome to the weekly roundup!
Here are some goodies we found that we think you might like:


  • WATCH: This week’s episode of John Krasinsky’s ‘Some Good News’ reunites the entire cast of The Office (via webinar of course) to help a newly married couple celebrate their zoom wedding.
  • READ: Check out this awesome article detailing how more than 4,000 staff members at New York City’s hardest hit hospital were gifted with free vacations from Hyatt and American Airlines. 
  • WATCH: In this emotional video, Marco Barbieri returns home after 40 days in the hospital. He beat Covid-19 and collapsed into a beautiful hug with his wife and kids.  

Enroll in the Theory of Enchantment Course 

The Theory of Enchantment platform uses pop culture and developmental psychology to teach social emotional learning to individuals aged 14 years and up. Students learn how to develop a strong sense of character and healthy relationships with others by first learning how to be in a healthy relationship with themselves.

Lessons in the course include the practice of self-knowledge, how to handle imperfection, behavioral management, and the practice and importance of centering love in our relationships with others — including those we disagree with.

Calling all Teachers and Educators!

Every Tuesday, we host a free webinar on the ToE approach to Social Emotional Learning at 10am est via Zoom. If you’re interested in joining us this week or in the future, send us a note and we’ll be sure to sign you up!