When is martin luther kings birthday

As a Baptist pastor, King led a mass movement for freedom and human rights in the twentieth century. Washington accepted slavery even while he defended the revolution. In confronting white supremacy, King challenged a fundamental contradiction at the heart of the United States, one that denies equality for all. One was a slave owner. The other was descended from slaves. His wife Martha was at his side. At 39, King was a private citizen engaged in public protest when he was assassinated on April 4, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Shot in the face, King died in the company of movement associates. The country celebrated Washington in many ways, including readings of his farewell address and local parades. Hayes removed federal troops from former confederate states. This decision would facilitate the restoration of unchecked white supremacy for nearly one hundred years. In , he began his struggle to persuade the U. He led the first large nonviolent demonstration against segregated buses.

However, racists responded with violence to his nonviolent initiative. King was jailed along with large numbers of his supporters, including hundreds of schoolchildren. His supporters did not, however, include all the black clergy of Birmingham, and he was strongly opposed by some of the white clergy who had issued a statement urging African Americans not to support the demonstrations.

From the Birmingham jail, King wrote a letter of great eloquence in which he spelled out his philosophy of nonviolence:. Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.

He led according to his beliefs from Christianity, with nonviolent influences from Gandhi. He traveled greatly, wrote five books and numerous articles, and led many initiatives to campaign for the proper voter registration of people of color. Photo: A statue of Dr. King stands at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.

On August 28, , King directed a march of , demonstrators to Washington, D. Here is his acceptance speech. On April 4, , King was assassinated by a racist while speaking in Tennessee in support of the struggling garbage workers of that city. It had been only 4 years earlier that he had received the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against racism.

Think of Martin Luther King Jr. Visit www. MLKD ay. What a great nation America is today and always! To promote service and kindness will lift any nation to greatness. I am so thankful to be an American and I am very proud of all its citizens who promote service as a bridge to equality and kindness as a bridge to enlightenment. We are very blessed. Happy Birthday Jackie Robinson 31Jan! Your legacies will live forever. MLK fought for and stood for what he believed in, and didn't let people like Alex below to subjugate him and his belief for equal rights for all Americans, asians black white hispanic, natives, etc.

MLK day is a federal holiday. The day is set on the third Monday of January so it can be observed by federal employees, schools, banks and such, and businesses who choose. This way the day each year does not change, even though the date does, like many other holidays. I have always loved history. Those who lived in such a way as to inspire future generations did not live in vain. King surely was such a man. I believe, as he, that the real issue with many folks is not that of race, but of character.

A lack of solid moral character allows one to follows their own senseless, hateful mind, for no other reason than that they are compelled to do so. Unkindness and cruelty grow from a root of hate. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday and there are few long standing traditions.

It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups. It is also a day that is combined with Robert E. The day is known as Wyoming Equality Day in the state of Wyoming.

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday, but has slightly different names in some states. Non-essential Government departments are closed, as are many corporations. Some schools and colleges close but others stay open and teach their students about the life and work of Martin Luther King.

Small companies, such as grocery stores and restaurants tend to be open, although a growing number are choosing to close on this day.