By: Yareli Garcia, Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury Heights, NJ
WOODBURY HEIGHTS, N.J. — Forty-two years ago, on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared Martin Luther King Jr. Day an official federal holiday that was to be celebrated on the third Monday in January. However, it was not officially observed until January 20, 1986. Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the legacy left behind by Martin Luther King Jr, a well known American activist who fought for the Civil Rights Movement.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Americans celebrate by re-establishing Dr. King’s vision about making the world a better place. This includes engaging in public services and promoting social change. In other words, the holiday is considered a “Day of Service,” which explains why some institutional buildings–like schools–are often closed.
This is done to encourage people to volunteer in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday since it is a day of remembrance and change. Parades, marches, and other exciting festivities are held on this day as well.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day holds an important part of American history as a leader for rights and freedoms. I very much see democracies as a work in progress and while they are not perfect, we as citizens have a role and responsibility to try and change them and make them better. The last words of our pledge of allegiance are with liberty and justice for all, I believe MLK is the embodiment of this idea and inspires us to try and achieve it,” wrote Gateway Regional High School history teacher, Mr. Kennedy.
“Martin Luther King Jr. symbolized courage, justice, and hope. He embodied the fight for civil rights through nonviolent resistance and believed in the power of love and equality to bring change. To me, he represents the ability of one person to inspire a nation to confront injustice and strive for a better, more inclusive society,” explained Gateway Regional High School science teacher, Mrs. Thomas.
Like most historical holidays, the story behind Martin Luther King Jr. day is something the United States, and its citizens, cannot afford to forget. From 1954 to 1968, Black Americans, and other American activists, fought to bring equality and justice for all. Their goal was to abolish the racism and discrimination against black people that used to be normalized across the United States, and other countries around the world.
On December 1, 1955, the well-known American activist Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery city bus. This led American activists to form the Montgomery Improvement Association, whose role was to boycott the transit system. Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen as its leader because he was well respected and had advantages such as having few enemies since he was new to town.
As president of the association, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered many speeches during his time. His voice became a light to those who felt weak, and it encouraged others to continue fighting for their rights. Dr. King was said to be an inspiring, skillful man that was willing to risk his life in order to continue leading the boycott until buses were desegregated.
Overtime, Martin Luther King Jr. continued his fight and formed many alliances such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He would also go on to join forces with other civil rights leaders in an effort to bring a peaceful change into the country. Here, he would deliver his famous, “I Have a Dream,” speech during the March on Washington.
On July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which sparked America’s first step into revolutionary justice. Martin Luther King Jr. was handed the Nobel Peace Prize award for his contribution. King continued to pursue his endeavors despite facing backlash from his enemies, and never once stopped fighting for what he believed in.
“We must always give thanks and show appreciation for those who made the world a better place and Martin Luther King Day is meant to spread his message of peace and hope for all to be treated equally,” said Gateway Regional High School history teacher, Ms. Warrington.
Even after his death just a year later, Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy lives on and will forever remain a sign of hope to those who yearn for a free future. Not just for the people living in the United States, but for everyone around the world.
This story was originally published in The Chomp, Gateway Regional High School’s student news website.
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