MLK Day

By: Emma McNamara

 On Monday the 18th, students had a day off from school. Many kids were excited for a three-day weekend to relax and sleep in, but why wasn’t school in session? 

Every year on the third Monday in January, citizens celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This federal holiday marks King’s birthday (the true date being January 15th). 

The famous Baptist minister and social rights activist played a very important role in American history. King believed in advancing civil rights through nonviolence. According to Britannica.com, “his leadership was fundamental to [The Civil Rights] movement’s success in ending the legal segregation of African Americans in the South and other parts of the United States” (Carson). 

His “I Have a Dream” speech became popular nationwide, and successfully conveyed the message that promises in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution can not be truly fulfilled until those freedoms are granted to all Americans. Black Americans as well as White Americans. 

Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy lives on, as his words continue to teach and inspire new generations in the US. We will continue to honor him on MLK day, reflecting on his service, relaying his message, and celebrating his life.