Today is the commemoration of the federal holiday to honor the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, the holiday falls on his birthday (Jan. 15, 1929).
According to Quartz, King is only one of three individuals who have a dedicated US national holiday in their honor, the other two being Christopher Columbus and George Washington. King was only 39 years old when he was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, in 1968. James Earl Ray later pleaded guilty to the charge.
President Ronald Reagan signed the bill designating the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Day in 1983, to begin the holiday in January 1986.
A recent survey revealed that less than 40 percent of workers have this holiday day off… about the same as Presidents Day. But whether or not you’re at work today, take a moment to reflect on the philosophy of this great civil rights leader.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King, Jr
This post was originally published in 2017 and was updated January 15, 2018.