Martin Luther King, Jr. The Man.

Authors: Rachel Margariti and Isabella Schaedle

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an essential figure of the 1900s. His speeches awakened concern and ignited the conscience of a generation. His movements and marches brought major changes in American life. His selfless devotion gave direction to thirteen years of civil rights activities. His leadership inspired substantial amounts of people in America and around the world.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a philosophy called “somebodiness,”. This philosophy celebrated human value, it gave black and poor people hope and a sense of self-respect. Another one of his philosophies, non violent direct action along with his strategies for practical and non-destructive social change, stirred up the conscience of this nation. His wisdom, words, actions, commitment, and most importantly, his dream for a new way of life are entwined with a connotation of America.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of the four federal holidays in the United States and is observed on the third Monday of January, around the time of Dr. King’s birthday which was on January 15th. Martin Luther King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Campaign for a federal holiday began immediately after his death. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. It was first observed in 1986. At first, some states refused to observe the holiday as it was. They gave it other names, or combined it with other holidays. It was officially observed by all 50 states in the year 2000.

United States Representative John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan, introduced the bill to Congress to make Dr. King’s birthday a federal holiday. The bill came to a vote in 1979 for the first time, but fell short of five votes of the number needed in order for it to be passed. The two main arguments made against the bill were that it would be too expensive to pay employees for the day off, and that the holiday honored a private citizen. This would go against what Dr. King believed. Next the supporters of this bill turned to the general public in order to pass the bill. Musician Stevie Wonder released a single titled “Happy Birthday” to popularize the campaign. Six million people signed the petition in favor of making Dr. King’s birthday a federal holiday.

This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on January 18th. There will be no school, so enjoy your day off! Don’t forget to remember why Dr. King led the movements that he did and think about the impact they have on life today.

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