“So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
These words pretty much sum up everything you need to know about the man that was Martin Luther King Jr. Not only was he one of the most influential people in history, but he was also the most impactful person to the Civil Rights Movement. His efforts, along with many others including the likes of Rosa Parks, lead to African Americans gaining the right to vote as well as ending segregation in America. Out of all words a person could use to describe MLK, I believe the best word would be “grand”. MLK was a grand man. A devoted father, husband, pastor, and civil rights leader. And in 1983, his birthday was officially made into a federal holiday, although it took a very long time until it was nationally accepted.
The origin of MLK day however, is quite complicated. It was originally proposed by U.S. Representative John Conyers only 3 days after King’s assassination. Although it was immediately declined, this sparked a 15-year effort to make this a reality. It wasn’t just politicians that helped make this possible, singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder wrote the song “Happy Birthday” to help spread the message of MLK’s birthday, as well as the King family’s efforts to help make the day possible.
Finally, after many proposals and years of efforts, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to officially indoctrinate MLK Day as an official federal holiday. Although the votes to put this bill in to the Oval Office were not unanimous, with The House voting 338-90 and The Senate voting 78-22. One of the politicians who voted no in the senate was Senator John McCain, who after deeply reflecting on his decision, regretted voting no and later proposed to posthumously pardon former Boxing World Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson from the Mann Act in 2007, a bill later passed by President Donald Trump in 2018.
If you’re wondering how you can participate on MLK day, you can participate in the National Day of Service, volunteer for local causes, learn about his life through speeches or documentaries, attend community events like marches or forums, and engage in meaningful dialogues about justice, equity, and compassion, reflecting on his legacy of equality and service.
