Honoring a Legacy: Unveiling the History and Purpose of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Introduction
The campaign to create a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. began shortly after his assassination in 1968, and three years later, on January 20, 1986, it was officially observed. At first, some states refused to observe the holiday as such, renaming it something else or combining it with other holidays. Although Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929, his actual birthday fell on a Tuesday in 1929.The federal holiday and the official state holiday were both recognized in 2000. The Monday observance is the same as the federal holidays that fall under the purview of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a campaign was launched to create a federal holiday in his honor. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law in 1983, but it took 15 years for the holiday to become a reality. It was first observed on January 20, 1986. At first, some states refused to observe the holiday, renaming it or combining it with other holidays.
That being said, in 2000 the holiday was formally observed by each state under federal law as well as the laws of each state; as a result, it is now celebrated on the third Monday in January each year, in line with other federal holidays that fall under the purview of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
In 1980, musician Stevie Wonder released the single "Happy Birthday" to support the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. Wonder also hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981, which further raised awareness of the movement. The campaign was successful in gathering six million signatures for a petition to Congress urging them to pass the law.
Observed on the third Monday in January, the holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986. The final votes in the House of Representatives were 338–90 (242–4 in the House Democratic Caucus and 89–77 in the House Republican Conference) with 5 members voting present or abstaining. The final votes in the Senate were 78–22 (41–4 in the Senate Democratic Caucus and 37–18 in the Senate Republican Conference), both veto-proof margins.
Voters in Arizona were presented with two options in November 1990 regarding how to honor Martin Luther King Jr.: Proposition 301 proposed adding MLK Day to the list of paid state holidays, while Proposition 302 suggested combining the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln into one paid holiday to create space for MLK Day.
The state officially recognized the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in 1992 after voters were presented with only one option for a paid King Day. This was the first time the day was celebrated nationally under this name.
South Carolina was the last state to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday for all state employees; before this bill, workers had to choose between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and one of three Confederate holidays. Governor Jim Hodges of South Carolina signed a bill making the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. an official state holiday on May 2, 2000.
The inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day service in Israel was hosted by Navy chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff in 1984 during a tour by the U.S. Sixth Fleet and took place in the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
Observed on the final Sunday of January, Cesar Chavez partnered with him to promote awareness of the financial hardships faced by American farm workers. In 1990, Chavez highlighted the parallels between his campaigns to address pesticide-related issues and King's campaigns. In honor of King's holiday, Cesar Chavez Day was created.
The Japanese city of Hiroshima observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In January 2005, Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba hosted a special banquet at the mayor's office to honor King's human rights message and his city's plea for peace.
That being said, in 2000 the holiday was formally observed by each state under federal law as well as the laws of each state; as a result, it is now celebrated on the third Monday in January each year, in line with other federal holidays that fall under the purview of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Establishment and History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Labor unions were the ones who first pushed for the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday during contract negotiations. When King was assassinated, Representative John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan, and Senator Edward Brooke, a Republican from Massachusetts, introduced a bill in Congress to declare King's birthday a national holiday. The bill was first put to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979, but it was defeated by five votes. The main arguments made by opponents of the legislation were that it would be prohibitively expensive for federal employees and that it would go against long-standing custom.In 1980, musician Stevie Wonder released the single "Happy Birthday" to support the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. Wonder also hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981, which further raised awareness of the movement. The campaign was successful in gathering six million signatures for a petition to Congress urging them to pass the law.
The Significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Every year on the third Monday in January, the United States observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring King, who was instrumental in leading the Civil Rights Movement's nonviolent activism against racial discrimination in state and federal law as well as in civil society, which led to several historic legislative reforms in the country. Although King was born in 1929—his actual birthday is January 15—his actual birthday fell on a Tuesday in 1929.Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a Federal Holiday
First objecting to the holiday due to financial concerns, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill introduced by Representative Katie Hall of Indiana into law on November 2, 1983, making it a federal holiday in honor of Dr. King.Observed on the third Monday in January, the holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986. The final votes in the House of Representatives were 338–90 (242–4 in the House Democratic Caucus and 89–77 in the House Republican Conference) with 5 members voting present or abstaining. The final votes in the Senate were 78–22 (41–4 in the Senate Democratic Caucus and 37–18 in the Senate Republican Conference), both veto-proof margins.
Facts and Traditions Surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Signed into law in 1983, the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. went into effect three years later. However, not all U.S. states observed the federal holiday in January at the state level until 1991, when the legislature of New Hampshire abolished its April "Fast Day" and established "Civil Rights Day." New Hampshire was the last state to name a holiday after King, celebrating it for the first time in January 2000, the year it was first observed nationwide.Voters in Arizona were presented with two options in November 1990 regarding how to honor Martin Luther King Jr.: Proposition 301 proposed adding MLK Day to the list of paid state holidays, while Proposition 302 suggested combining the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln into one paid holiday to create space for MLK Day.
The state officially recognized the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in 1992 after voters were presented with only one option for a paid King Day. This was the first time the day was celebrated nationally under this name.
South Carolina was the last state to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday for all state employees; before this bill, workers had to choose between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and one of three Confederate holidays. Governor Jim Hodges of South Carolina signed a bill making the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. an official state holiday on May 2, 2000.
The inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day service in Israel was hosted by Navy chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff in 1984 during a tour by the U.S. Sixth Fleet and took place in the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
The Ongoing Relevance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Message
The Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute and Dinner has been an annual event in Wassenaar, The Netherlands since 1987. It commemorates youth and veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and includes musical performances. The tribute culminates with a circle of people joining hands and singing "We Shall Overcome."Observed on the final Sunday of January, Cesar Chavez partnered with him to promote awareness of the financial hardships faced by American farm workers. In 1990, Chavez highlighted the parallels between his campaigns to address pesticide-related issues and King's campaigns. In honor of King's holiday, Cesar Chavez Day was created.
The Japanese city of Hiroshima observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In January 2005, Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba hosted a special banquet at the mayor's office to honor King's human rights message and his city's plea for peace.
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