Today Americans will celebrate and honor the work and service of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Observed the third Monday of January, this year marks the 30th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday in the United States.
Special events and celebrations will be held in the U.S. as children, youth, and adults honor his legacy with discussions, National Day of Service projects as well as marches through city streets.
He once said we will have to decide whether we:
will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life’s most persistent and nagging question, he said, is `what are you doing for others?’
Over the years, I’ve attended and helped plan Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events. I discovered things about his work and life I never knew, including:
- Did you know King was the youngest man (at the time), at 34 years of age, to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964?
- Or that he was named Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1964?
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the first U.S. holiday for an American who wasn’t a U.S. president
You can learn more about King’s life, work, and accomplishments through the infographics I’ve shared:
- Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: A Lifetime of Change
- Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., Day 2015
How are you celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?
