Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who Was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. This year it will be celebrated on Monday, January 17th. A relatively new federal holiday (observed for the first time on January 20, 1986) it celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights activist and leader who sought to end racial segregation in the United States. King was the chief spokesman for non-violent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. King was assassinated April 4,1968 on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis TN. His most famous address was the “I Have A Dream” speech.

Although there are few long standing traditions Martin Luther King Day is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments close in honor and others mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King Jr. Recent federal legislation encourages Americans to participate in a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteers across the country are encouraged to donate their time to make a difference on this day!

 
Martin Luther King Day was not observed in all states until the year 2000. Six million signatures were collected for a petition to Congress to pass the law, termed by a 2006 article in The Nation as “the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history.”

Learn more about MLK Day of Service here.