Martin Luther King Jr Day
January 17, 2025, is Martin Luther King Jr Day. King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, and was assassinated on April 4, 1968. He is best known for advocating civil rights through nonviolence to achieve equal rights for African Americans in the United States.
This date is dedicated to honoring the man who fought for equality in the country that once enslaved him and his family. This day encourages individuals to continue this fight through whatever means possible to eliminate discrimination among all people.
The day is not just celebrated in Los Angeles, where King was born. This day is also nationally recognized in the United States and around the world.
Beginning of Nonviolent Protests
King’s contributions included advocating nonviolent forms of protests like boycotts, marches, or labor strikes which successfully ended segregation. He believed in promoting peace between races across borders because he modeled his demonstrations after Mahatma Gandhi’s work during India’s independence from Britain.
He also fought for women, workers, young people, and poor people.
In honor of this day, individuals across the nation will volunteer time to those in need as a way to realize King’s dream. In addition, many Americans celebrate by taking a day off from work.
King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 “for his non-violent efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination” amongst other awards like the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964).
His most famous speech was given on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This is where he delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech. It was an expression of hope that his four children would grow up with equality among all races.
In addition, he wrote several books, including “Stride Toward Freedom” and “Why We Can’t-Wait.”
King’s life was cut short when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray. In addition, the holiday has been controversial since it is a federal holiday, and King was not paid for his work. This raises debate about whether or not this behavior should be condoned even if the individual fought for equality.
Despite this, many Americans express pride in celebrating a man who stood up for what he believed in so that future generations can live without fear of discrimination.
Today’s society is still working toward the realization of King’s dream. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is located in Washington D.C. to honor his memory and his contributions to the United States which advanced civil rights for all Americans.
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word”.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
The Origins of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Labor unions were instrumental in developing the idea of making Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a national holiday. After King’s death, Congressman John Conyers and Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to declare King’s birthday a nationwide holiday. The bill was first considered by the United States House of Representatives in 1979, but it failed by five votes.
Two of the most common counterarguments were that a paid vacation for federal employees would be too costly and that making King’s birthday an official holiday would be contrary to long-standing custom, as he never held public office. George Washington and Christopher Columbus are the only other individuals who have had national holidays dedicated to them.
The King Center immediately began searching for financial and public support. The campaign’s success was reinforced when musician Stevie Wonder released the single ‘Happy Birthday’ to promote it in 1980, followed by a Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981.
The proposed bill, which is nicknamed the DREAM Act, would provide a path to legal status for unauthorized immigrants who arrived in the United States as children before turning 16. At 6 million signatures, it is considered the most successful petition in support of an issue in American history. The holiday was first suggested by Representative Katie Hall in the early 1980s after First Lady Nancy Reagan devoted her annual Christmas message to King.
President Reagan initially opposed the day due to financial concerns. On November 2, 1983, however, Reagan signed a bill proposed by Rep. Katie Hall that created a federal holiday in his honor. The legislation had won approval in the Senate with 78 votes for and 22 nays, and in the House of Representatives with 338 votes for and 90 nays (a two-thirds majority is required).
January 20, 1986, was the first time this holiday was observed. It is observed on the third Monday of January rather than on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday because it follows the provisions of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a momentous event each year when Americans from all walks of life come together to improve their communities and take action toward achieving Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was achievable, he also recognized and challenged for systemic change. His example serves as a reminder that we must act now.
In this spirit, the King Center is asking Americans to make a difference in their communities on or around January 15th, Dr. King’s birthday, through service and empowerment projects in mid-January. Our goal with this initiative is to inspire a culture of service across our nation in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who believed that we could achieve more together than we can alone.
Taking into account the United States’ sesquicentennial, several individuals and groups are commemorating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in service activities organized on January 15th to commemorate his birthday. The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was decreed by former Pennsylvania US Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who wrote the King Holiday and Service Act together.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Americans are challenged to transform Dr. Martin’s Birthday into a day of citizen action volunteer service. On August 23, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law. Since 1996, Todd Bernstein, the former state office director for Wofford in South Carolina, has led the annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service, which is the largest event in the country recognizing King.
Since 1994, the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, has coordinated nationally observed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
September 11 is America’s only other legal national day of service, as designated by the government, which was established to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks.
The third Monday in January is observed every year as MLK Day, which is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage citizens across the United States to volunteer. For the previous quarter-century, nonprofit organization AmeriCorps has been leading this effort.
Volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a fantastic method to get involved with your community while paying homage to Dr. King’s legacy. What you do, however little or large, makes a difference in the world.
We encourage Americans from all walks of life to join us by registering for an MLK Day of service 2022 at a nonprofit organization near you.
For more information check out our All Glorious December Global Holidays article here.
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