Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national holiday that is celebrated annually in January. It is a special day to commemorate the Civil Rights spokesperson's birthday. Even though King's birthday was January 15, 1929, the holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of January. The earliest day that the holiday could fall is January 15, and the latest is January 21.
King (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968) was a Baptist minister and a major advocate for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement. King joined the movement in 1955 and was a major player up until his assassination in 1968.
King was an avid believer in nonviolent ways and civil disobedience. He stuck to his Christian values and nonviolent activism inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He participated in many marches for black's right to vote, desegregation, labor rights and various other basic civil rights. He also led multiple marches.
King won theN obel Peace Prize for his battle against racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. In 1965, King was a main component in organizing two of the three Selma to Montgomery marches.
King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and also the Congressional Gold Medal in 2003.
Former president Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. Some states showed resistance in observing the holiday in honor of King, naming it alternative holidays, or combining it with oth ers. For example, New Hampshire dubbed it as "Civil Rights Day" till 1999. Some southern states like Alabama and Arkansas combined the holiday with Robert E. Lee's birthday. However , all 50 stat es jumped on board of the holiday in 2000.
Many businesses and companies allow employees to have the day off. In 2007, 33% of employers gave employees the day off. The holiday is most popular among nonprofit organizations and least popular in factories and manufacturers.