Published January 1, 2025
It’s always great to have a day off of school or work, and we have one coming up this month! You’ve almost certainly heard of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and know a little about why he’s so important. But why do we get a whole day off just to celebrate him and his accomplishments? This month’s article will tell you exactly that!
What, exactly is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a special holiday where we celebrate the life and legacy of a great leader who worked to make the world a better, fairer place for everyone. Dr. King believed that all people, no matter the color of their skin, should be treated equally and with kindness. He used peaceful protests, powerful speeches, and his unwavering belief in justice to help change unfair laws and fight racism. Every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (always on the third Monday of January) we remember his dreams of a world where people live in harmony, and we honor the progress we’ve made—and the work still to be done—to make that dream a reality.
The Inequality Dr. King Was Fighting
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil-rights leader, which means he fought against discrimination of all kinds. Here are just a few things that he and other civil rights leaders worked tirelessly to change for the Black community:
Segregation
After slavery, and all the way into the 1960s, Black people and white people had to live separately. They went to different schools, lived in different neighborhoods, and shopped at different businesses. They had to drink at different drinking fountains and swim in different pools. The law at the time said that all of these establishments had to be “separate but equal,” but in fact, they were very rarely equal. On the whole, the places and services available to Black citizens were much worse than those for whites, which was often very damaging to their quality of living.
The Right to Vote
Black citizens were technically allowed to vote beginning in 1870. But some people didn’t like that, so they made it intentionally difficult for Black people to get to the ballot boxes. They created “poll taxes” that very few Black people could afford. They said voters had to own property, during a time when very few Black people did. And in some cases, they faced voter-intimidation and violence. So, while Black people were technically “allowed” to vote, they were up against so many obstacles that voting was difficult.
Economic Inequality
Because of racism and segregation, Black people in the US experienced discrimination in just about every aspect of their lives, including at work, when trying to buy a house, and when applying for loans. This made it very difficult for them to improve their financial situation and meant a lot of Black families struggled with poverty. And all of this discrimination contributed to a wealth gap that still exists today.
The Fight for Equal Rights
Martin Luther King Jr. believed in nonviolent resistance. So, here’s how he got creative and advocated for Black rights in a peaceful way:
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
In 1955, Rosa Parks—a Black woman—got on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and was asked to give up her seat to a white man. But she refused and was arrested and fined as a result. So, the Black community organized a bus boycott to highlight the injustice. 40,000 Black people in Montgomery refused to ride the bus, which means the city missed out on collecting all of that bus fare. The Supreme Court eventually ended up ordering the city to integrate their buses. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the leaders of the boycott.
Read more about the Montgomery Bus Boycott here.
The “I Have a Dream Speech”
By 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was already a well-known civil rights leader, and he organized the March on Washington, which was a peaceful rally intended to highlight the injustices faced by Black Americans nationwide. He also happened to be a very dynamic speaker. So, in Washington DC, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, he gave one of the most famous speeches of all time—the “I Have a Dream” Speech. It was a moving, powerful call for peace and equality that raised the visibility of Black causes.
Read or listen to the full “I Have a Dream” speech here.
The Selma to Montgomery March
In 1965, Black citizens should’ve been able to vote. But as you’ve already read, that wasn’t always easy. So, Martin Luther King Jr., along with several advocacy groups, led a 54-mile march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama (the state capital) in order to encourage and help Black citizens register to vote. Tragically, they were met with fierce resistance along the way, and several people were killed. But they bravely pushed forward, succeeded, and drew national attention to their cause.
Read more about the Selma to Montgomery March here.
Achievements
Martin Luther King Jr. achieved so much during his life. To sum it up, he played a key role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended racial discrimination, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protected the right to vote for everyone, regardless of race. He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
The History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Despite Dr. Martin Luther King’s insistence on peaceful, non-violent resistance, his efforts were often met with violence from people who didn’t agree with him. Tragically, Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. But because he was such an important part of the Civil Rights movement, almost immediately, a federal holiday was proposed in his honor. That holiday wasn’t actually granted, however, until 15 years later, when President Ronald Reagan made it so. And now, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day every January. It’s a day that honors his life, bravery, and contributions. But it’s also a day of service that invites us to channel his spirit, and volunteer to better our community.
The Importance of the Holiday
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” So, while he definitely fought for Black rights, in doing so, he fought for everyone’s rights. This holiday reminds us that we can advocate for ourselves, and others, through nonviolent resistance. And if we work together, we can truly change the world.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Tags: Civil Rights, History for Kids, Martin Luther King Jr, MLK Day