History of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Today, the third Monday of January, the birth, life, and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is honored in America. It is a Federal holiday, with public schools and libraries, mail services, and most federal and state offices closed.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, GA. Rev. King was an American Baptist minister and civil-rights leader. He is best known as a spokesman of the civil rights movement. Dr. King led the boycott of segregated city bus lines in Montgomery, Alabama in 1956. In August 1963, 200,000 people marched in Washington. D.C., where King delivered his famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” He advanced civil rights by nonviolence and fought for freedom, equality and dignity of all races. He was the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, at the age of 35.
Two famous quotes of his are: "The time is always right to do what is right." "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
President Reagan established the Third Monday of every January as Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday, in 1986. All 50 states observed the holiday on January 18th 1993. There are only two individuals whose birthdays are federal holidays; George Washington’s birthday is celebrated on Presidents’ Day.
Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, is a place where nonviolence education and training continue in his name.
References: The King Center and Infoplease.com
Published: 01/18/2021
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