(Hi everyone, how have you been keeping? My students wrote some articles for you about Martin Luther King's Day. Here is a compliation of them)
What is MLK day?
On the third Monday of every January, people of all ages will come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, to serve their community, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.
This is a day that is nationally recognized here in the United States, every third monday in January. It honors the late but great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A civil activist who fought for equal rights for colored people and believed in Non violence in the late 50's & 60's. Dr. King is most notably remembered for the historic march on Washington Memorial which brought over 150, 000 people. This was the place he delivered the famous speech "I have a dream...". He was later assassinated in 1968. One of the most important things about him was that he was dedicated to being a non violent leader. He believed that everything can be achieved with words and determination protest and speeches were his way of getting his point across.
A few days after his assassination, Congressman John Conyers presented the idea for a holiday for MLK. The rest of the congress was unsure about this and the idea became left in the air. Shortly after there was about six million names given to congress petitioning the holiday. Still, congress didn't move.
John Conyers resubmitted the idea alongside Rep. Sherry Chislom every time they had a chance during congress meetings. Soon the public began to get frustrated of the idea of MLK not being honored for his work, and brought pressure to congress during Marches in Washington in 1982 & 1983.
Finally, in 1983 congress passed the holiday and President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law. Though he moved the day from being on January 15th, to the third monday in January. President Reagan moved the date further because it was too close to Christmas and New Year.
It was first observed in 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it different names or combining it with other holidays. It was then officially approved in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
In 2010, the holiday falls on Jan. 18.
Facts: Illinois was the first state to adopt MLK day in 1973.
South Carolina was the last state to adopt MLK day in 2000
by Jonathan, Michael, Khamara and Louis
