Who Is Martin Luther King Jr.?

I chose Martin Luther King Jr. as my VIP for this week because today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I suppose that the third Monday in January was chosen to honor him because he was born on January 15, 1929. He is the only individual who has a federal holiday named after him besides Jesus Christ who has Christmas celebrating His birth. None of the Presidents of the United States have a federal holiday named after them. We honor all forty-six of them on the same day known as Presidents Day.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day that commemorates King who was a Civil Rights activist, Baptist preacher, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. He was known for his activism against segregation and his advocacy for civil rights. He gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, and he was assassinated in 1968 because of his advocacy for civil rights. 

President Ronald Reagan signed the bill that designated the third Monday in January as a federal holiday. It is the only federal holiday that is designated as a national day of service to honor King’s dedication to service and his influence.