Mon, Jan 20, 2025
Interesting Facts
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrated on the third Monday of January each year, honors the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a central figure in the American civil rights movement and the youngest person at the time to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to combat racial inequality through nonviolent resistance.
This federal holiday was first observed in 1986, although it faced a long struggle for recognition, with some states initially resisting the observance. It is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, encouraging Americans to volunteer to improve their communities, reflecting King’s life mission of service and promoting equality.
The day is marked by educational programs, commemorative celebrations, and acts of service, with the famous “I Have a Dream” speech often revisited to inspire and remind people of the vision King had for America.