Weekend Playlist: Infinite Hope

By Sophie Day in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 17, 2015 8:00PM

Photo via The Real Edwin

The third weekend in January has come and with it comes Martin Luther King Day, a holiday that has its roots in Illinois. Many schools and offices will close on Monday to honor his memory, and it is important that we do just that. Selma has been widely released across the country and is drawing large crowds, as well as thunderous applause. With Oscar nominations announced this week, the film received a nod for Best Picture, and just last week took home the Golden Globe for Best Song for Common and John Leged's "Glory" which starts the playlist off this week.

This year, it seems, more than others in recent memory we would do well to take the time to really ponder and honor the legacy of this man, and those who stood with him . Racial tensions remain high as protests continue around the country. Watching Selma, several scenes feel like they are ripped from today's headlines as images of police in gas masks pass across the big screen. The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. said, "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” With Ferguson and Staten Island fresh in our memories, with the hashtag Black Lives Matter still making the rounds on social media, it is important to remember all of the amazing work for Civil Rights that was carried out by those that came before us, and to remember that to give up hope is not an option.

This week, our playlist honors the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in America, and the brave men, women, and children who fought relentlessly for what they believed in.