Each year, on the third Monday in January, schools and businesses across the nation will be observing the national federal holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, to honor the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As many of you know, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a key activist during the Civil Rights Movement who dedicated much of his life fighting for the basic human rights of African Americans and racial equality.

FUN FACTS:

• King graduated high school at age 15, valedictorian of his class.
• King was named “Man of the Year” in 1963 by TIMES.
• King received his doctorate in Theology at age 25.
• Before he changed his name, King was born Michael Luther King, Jr.
• The year 2000 was the first year all 50 states officially observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s role as a national leader within the Civil Rights Movement shortly began after Rosa Parks refused to relinquish her seat to a white passenger when several activists who arranged a bus boycott selected Martin Luther King, Jr. to become the official spokesperson of the protest. King was heavily influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, which advocated for nonviolent resistance in order to achieve progress. Utilizing both his remarkable leadership skills and a peaceful approach, King’s protest strategy gained the support and recognition of thousands of individuals across the world.

Throughout the rest of his role in the Civil Rights Movement, King continued to apply the peaceful and nonviolent teachings of which he was inspired. In 1957, after the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, King founded and became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) where he traveled

the country meeting with prominent political figures, activist, and gave lectures on civil rights and nonviolent resistance. Year’s later, King lead another protest event, the March on Washington, which was created in order to highlight the injustices and prejudice African Americans continued to faced. Involving nearly 300,000 participants, the march is recognized as one of the most crucial acts that helped bring about the legislation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Like he had during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, King continued to serve as a critical force behind several peaceful organized protests that helped spark the watershed legislation during the Civil Rights Movement up until his death on April 4, 1968. King’s message of peace and equality resonated with millions of individuals during his time and continues to do so today. Have a wonderful Monday, Knights, and remember to recognize the remarkable impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/martin-luther-king-jr

http://www.ushistory.org/us/54f.asp

https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html