Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a United States holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. It is one of three United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person.
In 1968 after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., introduces legislation for federal holiday to commemorate King.
In 1973 ILLINOIS was the first state to adopt MLK Day as a state holiday.
Then in 1983 Congress passes, President Reagan signs, legislation creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. But not until 1986 would the Federal MLK holiday go into effect.
The success of Martin Luther King's non-violent movement against segregation and injustice in the American south owes much to his visionary and inspirational eloquence. The following are excerpts from King's most popular speeches, according to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Paper Project at Stanford University.
If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, "There lived a great people—a black people—who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization."
From an address given in Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 31, 1955
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."
From the "I Have a Dream" speech, Aug. 28, 1963
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1964
I just want to do God's will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.
From an address given in Memphis the night before his assassination, April 3, 1968
