Martin Luther King remembered
By Kirstie Hettinga
The Collegian
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1986 to recognize the life of King and his contribution to the movement for civil rights.
The day is recognized on the third Monday of every January, which falls around the time of King’s birthday.
Though the day was created in 1986 it was not observed by all 50 states until 1993.
Various cities have renamed streets in King’s honor. A national historic site was created in 1980 in Atlanta, Ga. and is maintained by the national parks service. Additionally, Congress recognizes the roads taken by voting rights advocates in 1965 between Selma and Montgomery. The path was later declared an “All-American Road,” which is the highest compliment a road can receive under the Federal Highway Administration.
While roads have been honored and monuments have been erected to recognize the work of King, his life had humble beginnings.
Born Jan. 15, 1929 as Michael Luther King, he later changed his name to Martin to honor his father, the senior Martin Luther King.
King attended Morehouse College and received a degree in sociology. He also received a bachelor’s degree in theology and later earned a Ph.D. in the field. He married Coretta Scott in 1953. They had four children.
King became the pastor of a Baptist church in Alabama the same year he married. In 1955 he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott that was begun when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger.
King was a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The SCLC was created to help with the organization of nonviolent protests, which were inspired by the work of Gandhi.
It was the work of King and the SCLC that made the Civil Rights Movement the most important issue in America during the 1960s.
One of the most famous nonviolent protests in part organized by King was the March on Washington in 1963. The demands of those who marched included an end to racial segregation in public schools, a set minimum wage and protection from police brutality for civil rights workers.
King’s work was not met with open arms. He was at times imprisoned for his protests and his home was bombed.
In 1964 King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
King was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. Rioting followed his death until President Lyndon Johnson declared a day of mourning four days later. His killer, James Earl Ray, confessed to the killing upon his capture and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday to recognize an African-American.
It was debated if the holiday should be recognized on King’s birthday or the day he died.
Ceremonies across the nation celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. every January. In respect for all he accomplished schools, federal agencies and offices are closed in his memory.
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