What is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day to honor the man and the legacy of Dr. King. He made it legal for each of us to expect — regardless of skin color, gender, ethnicity, or economic means — to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect. Be sure to scroll down to find the link to download your FREE Dr. Martin Luther King Jr eBook.

Who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr?

Dr. Martin Luther King was an activist and Baptist minister who blended his religion with his activism to become one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in Memphis, TN in 1968. Dr. King was a faith leader, civil rights activist, and minister, just like his father, Martin Luther King Sr. Dr. King, an African American man from the South, learned about Gandhi and effecting change through nonviolence and civil disobedience. He brought that philosophy to his efforts around civil rights.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Day

What is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the legacy of an African American man who led the civil rights movement in the United States through nonviolent protests and interracial cooperation and conversation. This tactic enabled him to fight effectively against legalized racial segregation and discrimination.

When is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day is celebrated close to the birth date of Martin Luther King Jr. but is not actually on his birthday most years. It is observed on the third Monday of January every year.

When will Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day be Celebrated in 2024?

It will be observed on Monday, January 15, 2024.

Is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day a Federal Holiday?

Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a Federal holiday in the United States.

When is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January every year but that day is not the same date every year. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is actually on January 15, and he was born in the year 1929.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Why Do We Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

It is honoring the achievements of a young African American Baptist minister who promoted the use of nonviolent means to end racial segregation. Dr. King first gained national exposure when he led the Montgomery bus boycott in Montgomery, AL in 1955. He was by far, the most influential of African American civil rights leaders during the 1960s. His efforts directly led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, and Fair Housing Act. Dr. King was the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, TN.

When Did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day become a Federal Holiday?

Right after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, a national holiday started being talked about. By 1970, a few states and some cities had already made his birthday a holiday. Legislation was introduced in Congress. In 1968, for there to be a Federal Holiday created, there was lots of opposition. Most of the arguments against it were either racial or politically motivated. Senator Jesse Helms, the North Carolina Senator, led a filibuster against the bill.

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan, a republican president, signed the bill into law. The holiday was observed for the first time on a nationwide basis on January 20, 1986. The bill also established the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission to oversee the observance of the holiday, and King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, was made a lifelong member by President George H.W. Bush in May of 1989.

How is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrated?

The day is usually celebrated in many cities across the nation with speeches given by political and civil rights leaders, marches, and parades. It is a Federal holiday, which means all government facilities and many businesses are closed, giving families a three-day weekend. Many communities also focus on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s heart for serving and have dubbed this day to be MLK Day of Service. It is a day for communities to come together and help each other and their communities.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

When was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated?

On Thursday, April 4th, 1968, at 6:05 pm, 39-year-old King was in Memphis, TN to march with the striking sanitation workers over the neglect and abuse of its black employees. He was staying in room 306 of the Lorraine Motel and was heading out to dinner with a local Memphis minister. He stepped out on the balcony and an assassin fired a single rifle shot at Dr. King, hitting him in the neck. An ambulance rushed Dr. King to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:05 pm.

How do I Learn More About the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr?

We have created a unit study filled with information and details about his life. We have also included several learning activities, posters, and a free ebook we created to help children learn more about Dr. King. We delve into his childhood, college days, marriage, civil rights experience, assassination, his legacy and provide lots of facts that you might not know about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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