Martin Luther King Jr. Day

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

%C4%90%C3%A1nh ghen
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Official nameBirthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Observed byUnited States
TypeNational
DateThird Monday in January
2023 dateJanuary Template:Weekday in month
2024 dateJanuary Template:Weekday in month
2025 dateJanuary Template:Weekday in month
2026 dateJanuary Template:Weekday in month
FrequencyAnnual
First timeJanuary 20, 1986
Related toMartin Luther King Jr.


Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King's birthday, January 15. The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

History[edit | edit source]

The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. U.S. Representative John Conyers and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King's birthday a national holiday. The bill first came to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979. However, it fell five votes short of the number needed for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition (King had never held public office).

Legislation and Observance[edit | edit source]

After the bill's defeat, the King Center turned to support from the general public. They enlisted the help of musician Stevie Wonder and organized a petition with six million signatures in favor of the holiday. The success of this strategy led to the bill being passed by Congress in 1983 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986.

Initially, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Significance[edit | edit source]

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. King was a prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for nonviolent resistance to racial segregation and discrimination. The holiday is often marked by educational events, community service, and reflections on King's legacy and the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

Traditions[edit | edit source]

Many people celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in community service projects, in line with King's message of social justice and civic action. Schools, businesses, and various organizations often hold events and activities to honor King's contributions to American society.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD