Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16, 2017

 

Time and date.com, "Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States." "Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States. 

What do people do?  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.

 

Martin Luther King Day, also known as Martin Luther King’s birthday and Martin Luther King Jr Day, is combined with other days in different states. For example, it is combined with Civil Rights Day in Arizona and New Hampshire, while it is observed together with Human Rights Day in Idaho. It is also a day that is combined with Robert E. Lee’s birthday in some states. The day is known as Wyoming Equality Day in the state of Wyoming."

 

Reference.  HistoryNet.com/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Facts, information and articles about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent figure in Black History." "Dr. Martin Luther King (National Archives) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. summary: Martin Luther King, Jr. became the predominant leader in the Civil Rights Movement to end racial segregation and discrimination in America during the 1950s and 1960s and a leading spokesperson for nonviolent methods of achieving social change. His eloquence as a speaker and his personal charisma, combined with a deeply rooted determination to establish equality among all races despite personal risk won him a world-wide following. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964 and was selected by Time magazine as its Man of the Year. His “I Have a Dream” speech, which is now considered to be among the great speeches of American history, is frequently quoted. His success in galvanizing the drive for civil rights, however, made him the target of conservative segregationists who believed firmly in the superiority of the white race and feared social change. He was arrested over 20 times and his home was bombed. Ultimately, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, on the balcony of a motel where he was staying in Memphis. A monument to Dr. King was unveiled in the national capital in 2012. .... Accomplishments: Leader of African American Civil Rights Leader; Nobel Peace Prize (1964); Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977); Congressional Gold Medal (2004). Died April 4, 1968, Memphis Tennessee."   March on Washington speech, 1963. "I have a dream", pdf pages 6. .... "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. ..." (page 5). 

 

Related articles.  The New York Times/Opinion/The Stone/Chris Lebron, PhD, Black studies/philosophy, Yale, 1/18/15,"What, to the Black American, is Martin Luther King Jtr. Day." .... ...  joy in a time of injustice is a very great luxury, one indulged in by either the willfully blind or the callously indifferent. The rest of us must come to terms with what we face and where we are headed. It is as Dr. King says: The arc of the moral universe is long; and it does bend where dissatisfied courage triumphs over privileged contentment.  The New Yorker/Jelani Cobb, 1/16/17, "Martin Luther King Day with Trump." "The holiday will be presided over by a President who scarcely seems to comprehend King's principles. ....This year, it highlights the fact that we’ve arrived at a place where the familiar landmarks are missing. The Memphis marchers in 1968 held one advantage: they knew the road they were going down."  Independent/UK/Adam Withnall, 1/15/17, "Martin Luther King Day: Donald Trump cancels visit to African American history museum in wake of civil rights row."  "Donald Trump will no longer visit the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture to mark Martin Luther King Day, according to reports. .... It was not immediately clear what Mr Trump would be doing instead of the trip, while the sources told ABC News he would be marking MLK Day in another way."   Note photograph/graphics. Celebrate from Alaris Health calendar; do the right thing from Picsholic pictures, quotes and wallpapers, "25+ famous Martin luther King jr Quotes.

 

Posted by Kathy Meeh