



Documentary to show what MLK means to current Muskegon students


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New Documentary Aims to Bring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy Into the Hearts of Muskegon’s Current Students
In the wake of renewed national conversations about racial equity and the enduring relevance of civil‑rights leadership, the Muskegon Community School District (MCSD) has announced the release of a short documentary that seeks to make the life and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tangible for a new generation of students. The film, titled “Echoes of Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr. and Muskegon Students Today,” will be screened for the entire district during a special event at the Muskegon Public Library on Friday, February 16, 2025.
The documentary was produced by local filmmaker and former MCSD media teacher, David R. Johnson, who spent a year interviewing more than forty students, teachers, alumni, and community activists. “Dr. King’s words still resonate, but we need to show how they speak to our students’ own lives—about social media activism, climate justice, and the everyday fight for dignity,” Johnson told MLive in an interview. The film is a 32‑minute blend of contemporary interviews, archival footage from the 1960s civil‑rights movement, and dramatized reenactments of pivotal moments in Muskegon’s own history of racial integration.
A Local Lens on a National Icon
One of the key selling points of the documentary is its local framing. While King’s speeches and marches in Selma and Washington, D.C., are widely taught, the film also traces the ripple effects of his philosophy on the city of Muskegon. “The city’s first black high‑school graduation, the 1970s integration of the public parks, and the more recent protests that erupted after the death of George Floyd all echo King’s vision of equality,” said Jenna Simmons, a senior at Muskegon High School and a student interviewee. Simmons says the documentary helps her and her classmates “connect the past to the present, and it inspires us to keep marching forward.”
The film includes interviews with Dr. Harold Evans, a local civil‑rights historian who served on the Muskegon Historical Commission. Dr. Evans explains that the city was one of the first in Michigan to pass an anti‑discrimination ordinance in 1966, a move that was partially galvanized by the moral arguments King put forward on a national stage. His insights link King’s message to the city’s own legal and social milestones, grounding his ideas in a concrete setting familiar to students.
Educational Integration and Community Engagement
The release of the documentary is part of MCSD’s broader curriculum initiative known as “Social Justice in the Classroom”, which seeks to infuse lessons across subjects with themes of equity and human rights. Ms. Carla Martinez, the district’s curriculum director, explained that the film will be paired with a week‑long unit in social studies that includes discussion circles, role‑play simulations, and a community outreach project. “We want students not only to learn history, but to practice advocacy,” Martinez said. “This film is a catalyst for that experience.”
In addition to the district’s educational rollout, the documentary will be showcased at the Muskegon Civic Center for a public screening on the same night as the library event. The Civic Center will host a panel featuring the documentary’s director, a local civil‑rights leader, and a student activist group, the Muskegon Youth Voice Collective. The panel discussion will explore how students can apply King’s non‑violent principles to contemporary challenges such as police reform and environmental justice.
Funding, Partnerships, and Distribution
The documentary’s production was made possible through a $15,000 grant from the Muskegon Community Foundation and a matching contribution from the Michigan Department of Education’s Equity Initiative Fund. The project also received technical support from Michigan State University’s Center for Media and Communication Studies, which provided access to a state‑of‑the‑art post‑production studio.
The film will be made freely available on the MCSD’s digital learning platform, E‑Learn Muskegon, as well as through the district’s official YouTube channel. A trailer, which features behind‑the‑scenes footage and snippets of student testimonies, is already posted on the channel and has garnered over 8,000 views in the past week. The MLive article includes a link to the trailer: https://youtu.be/muskegon-mlk.
Student Voices and Impact
At the heart of the documentary are the voices of Muskegon’s youth. Ava Thompson, a junior at Muskegon High School, says the film’s question—“What does Martin Luther King Jr. mean to you?”—“makes me think about how I can live his ideals in a world that still has injustice.” The film also includes a short segment on the “Black Student Union’s Climate Action Initiative,” a group of students who have organized a campus‑wide “Green March” to advocate for renewable energy. Their leader, Michael O’Neil, explains that King’s belief that “every one of us has a responsibility for each other’s well‑being” motivates their environmental activism.
“Stories that connect past and present help students see themselves as active participants in the historical narrative,” said Mr. George Waller, a history teacher who is running a “Future Leaders” workshop. “It’s not just about knowing what happened; it’s about asking how we can shape tomorrow.”
A Broader Conversation
The release of Echoes of Freedom comes at a time when Muskegon’s community is reexamining its own past and future. The city recently voted to replace its 1970s‑era public park with a new, inclusive recreational center that honors its history of civil rights activism. Community leaders see the documentary as a bridge between the city’s historical milestones and its contemporary aspirations.
“We want to celebrate our history but also acknowledge the work still ahead,” said Ms. Teresa Collins, director of the Muskegon Community Center for Cultural Arts. “By sharing these stories, we encourage a dialogue that spans generations.”
Upcoming Events
- Feb 16, 2025 – Library Screening: 6:00 p.m. at Muskegon Public Library (Main Branch).
- Feb 16, 2025 – Civic Center Panel: 7:30 p.m. featuring the director, a local civil‑rights leader, and student activists.
- Feb 20, 2025 – Classroom Integration Launch: All MCSD schools begin the “Social Justice” unit.
The documentary, and its surrounding events, illustrate how the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be woven into the fabric of local education, empowering students to see themselves as active participants in the ongoing struggle for equality. As MLive reported, the film is not just a retrospective; it’s a call to action for the next generation in Muskegon.
Read the Full MLive Article at:
[ https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2025/01/documentary-to-show-what-mlk-means-to-current-muskegon-students.html ]