Jaylen Petty and Madison Rivera
In the United States, people celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by getting a day off of school and even work. While many students and faculty are happy to have an extra day off following a weekend, not many are aware of the reason behind honoring Dr. King Jr. Why do we get off of school and why is the day recognized across the country?
MLK Jr. Day recognizes the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King served as the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. He promoted the use of nonviolence as a strategy to end segregation across the country. His contribution to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited various forms of discrimination, was vital.
In 1964, Dr. King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize. Soon after King’s death, efforts were made to establish a national holiday in his honor; however, the federal holiday legislation was not passed until 1983. The first nationwide celebration of the event happened in 1986.
Dr. King Jr. was born into a middle-class African-American family in Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up during this time, he witnessed racial segregation and discrimination that was running throughout society. Inspired by his father, who was a Baptist minister, Dr. King Jr. pursued a profession in ministry and became a Civil Rights Movement activist.
He organized nonviolent protests and advocated for the same rights, leading the first Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and the March of Washington in 1963. Sadly, his existence was tragically cut short when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Despite his death, Dr. King Jr.’s legacy lives on as a symbol of wish, equality, and justice for all.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights and dignity of all people, and his legacy motivates us to fight even more to make the world a more just and equal place. On this day, we continue to pay tribute to Dr. King Jr. and continue to build a brighter future for all by remembering his legacy and principles.
