Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day recognizes the birth of the civil rights leader who led marches and boycotts for equal rights in the Southern United States. It is celebrated the third Monday in January. His inspiring words and actions remind Americans everywhere to work for racial, economic, and international justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national holiday enacted by Congress in 1983. In 1994, Congress named as a day of service to the community in recognition of Dr. King’s service to the world community.
Resources
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Activities and Resources for Kids
The Meaning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday by Coretta Scott King
Action
MLK Day of Service—devote your holiday to serving your community.
Unitarian Universalist Grounding
Our Sources of Inspiration say that we learn from words and actions of prophetic women and men. Dr. King and his colleagues were definitely prophetic. By celebrating the life of Dr. King, we continue to learn how to build the beloved community in our daily lives.
Dr. King has inspired four resolutions at General Assembly; two of which surround the King Holiday. As Arizona was the last state in the Union to recognize the holiday, the UUA refused to have their General Assembly in Arizona until they adopted the holiday. After canceling the 1988 General Assembly in Phoenix, it did not return to the state until 1997.
Last updated on Thursday, June 19, 2008.
