Signed into law in 1994 Martin Luther King Jr’s Day became a national day of service in the United States honoring one of the most influential figures in our history. Today, we celebrate the birthday of a man who changed the dynamic of American Culture in a major way.
As one of the great leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, he fought for freedoms that were not promised to all people. Dr. King dreamed of a country without of segregation and racism.
King participated in and led marches for blacks' right to vote, desegregation, labor rights, and other basic civil rights. He also led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and later became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). As president of the SCLC, he led the unsuccessful Albany Movement in Albany, Georgia, and helped organize some of the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama. King helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
On October 14, 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. In 1965, he helped organize two of the three Selma to Montgomery marches. In his final years, he expanded his focus to include opposition towards poverty, capitalism, and the Vietnam War.
During one of his visits to Birmingham in 1963, Dr. King penned an open letter conveying the moral responsibility we all have to break unjust laws and to take direct action rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts. Responding to being referred to as an "outsider", King writes: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Some of you may wonder; does racism truly continue to exist in our country today? Fifty-three years after his untimely death, the quest for freedom and justice for all still weighs heavily on the minds of many.
> Check out this powerful message (on Twitter) from Bernice King.
DID YOU KNOW…
- He was the third pastor in his family.
- He graduated high school at fifteen years old.
- He attended a Historically Black College, Morehouse.
- He was arrested nearly thirty times.
- He wrote five books. Here is a link to a page where you can get your own copies! https://king-center-bookstore.myshopify.com/
- He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize & used the prize money to fund the civil rights movement.
- He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom & Congressional Gold Medal (posthumously).
To honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy let us all consider advocating for others and spreading the message of justice and equality all year round.
For those who would like to participate in this day of service, here are some virtual and social distant friendly events available to all. https://northlibertyiowa.org/2021/01/13/celebrate-martin-luther-king-jr-day-with-local-events/