Every 3rd Monday of the month of January is Martin Luther King, Jr day, and this 2020 TheBLACKMedia honors the American hero! Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader who lead several, massive, non-violent campaigns to advance the civil rights movement.
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Not only was King a leader, he was a minister who used his love of Christ, and God to lift the people and empower them to do what’s right. Much of Martin’s love of God, and need for peace (inspired by Mahatma Gandhi) can be heard in his most famous speech “I Have A Dream”. [see below]
Now-A-Days, because of the holiday, too often do we glance over Martin’s accomplishments, reach, and monument.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American Hero! His civil rights activism from 1955 to 1968 (when he was assassinated) was incredibly prolific, terrifying, difficult, tiring, and often an uphill battle.
Martin was not only the face of the civil rights movement, he was the heart of it, inspiring millions of people to act, who otherwise would’ve stayed home. That crucial part of activism, which is often lost now-a-days, is significant in movements of change, and Martin knew that.
Martin was threaten, beaten, hosed, put in jail, walked 54 miles during Selma’s marches, was threatened by the FBI to expose his extra marital affairs, and more, and yet, he continued!
After his assassination, labor unions proposed MLK Day as a national holiday, and while some cities and states observed it, it wasn’t until 1983 when Ronald Regan signed the bill, that Americans started understood the significance. Stevie Wonder even created the hit song “Happy Birthday” and used it to campaign for the MLK Day bill, which helped millions realize the importance of the holiday.
After voting, MLK Day was officially observed three years later (1986), but only some states properly observed it, and in the year 2000 all 50 states observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national federal holiday! Heroes are supposed to inspire you to protect, help each other, love each other, and do what’s right, and that’s exactly what Martin Luther King Jr. did!
Perspective. It’s only been 20 years of true observance for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Concerns of “cost”, and “favor” almost stopped Martin from being nationally memorialized. Even in his death, Martin’s teachings, speeches, activism, love of self, and love of community still inspires millions of us because; “The time is always right, to do what is right!” – MLK
