On Monday, January 15th, ADM will be closed so students and teachers can celebrate MLK Day. What is the history behind this holiday and why do students get the day off?
Every year on the third Monday in January, federal establishments like post offices, banks and state offices will be closed around the country. This day is used to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most important faces of the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s. King is best known for his I Have a Dream speech performed during the March on Washington. This Nobel Peace Prize winner was a crucial piece of the battle towards equality for African Americans.
Quickly following King’s assassination in 1968, supporters began fighting for a day to celebrate the accomplishments of MLK. Only four days after King’s death, an African American congressman from Michigan named John Conyers created a bill to make a holiday in the civil rights leader’s name. The bill kept failing in Congress despite Conyers’s persistent efforts. In 1983, after multiple organized marches, the bill finally passed the House of Representatives and moved into the Senate, where it was approved and officially declared law.
The first MLK day was held in 1986 and was led by Coretta Scott King, the late hero’s wife. The federal holiday consisted of marches, church services, concerts and even a march on Birmingham. While the celebration took place every year after this, it wasn’t until 2000 when the last state officially recognized it as a paid holiday.
This year, the third Monday in January takes place on Martin Luther King’s actual birthday. Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day is mostly considered a day to honor him, it is also known as a day of service. King was a prominent figure in the service world. As an activist and a pastor, he played a significant role in the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and he emphasized non-violent tactics in all of his community work. Thus, participating in service work and helping your community is an essential aspect of celebrating MLK Day.
Don’t spend your time off from school just lounging around. Instead, consider volunteering at a soup kitchen, spending time with residents at a nursing home, or donating food to those in need. Make the most of the historical Martin Luther King Day by giving back to the world and appreciating the progress we have been blessed with thanks to the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
