Martin Luther King, Jr. Day ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King’s birth on January 15. King was a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States and advocated for using nonviolent resistance to achieve social change. His efforts helped lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
King was assassinated in 1968, and in 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. The holiday was first observed in 1986, and became a national day of service in 1994. On this day, Americans are encouraged to volunteer in their communities in honor of King’s legacy of service.