Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in January. The holiday honors the life and legacy of MLK who was born on January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Georgia and became the most prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He spoke out against racial discrimination and worker exploitation, and inspired millions to join the movement. King advocated the tactics of nonviolent protests and civil disobedience. He did not endorse violence, in spite of the hostile resistance to the civil rights movement.
The Civil Rights Movement led to expanded voting rights, anti-discrimination laws, and protections for minority groups and workers. King was central to achieving these. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. In 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
In spite of his tragic death, the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. lives on. We are most reminded of that on the third Monday in January.
