Every January, most schools and workplaces take a day off to honor Martin Luther King Jr., a great man who changed America, but why do we do this?

To start, Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, which worked to make America fairer by fighting against unfair laws that separated Black and white people in the mid-1950s. Thanks to him, segregation (the unfair separation of people based on race) ended in many places. 

Early Years

King's father, Martin Sr., was a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, and his mother, Alberta Williams King, was a teacher. He grew up as a middle child, with an older sister, Christine, and a younger brother, Alfred Daniel. Even though he had a loving family, King was often faced with racism as a child. He found himself separated from his white schoolmates and was usually treated unfairly by adults. Still, Martin Luther King Jr. was a gifted student, excelling in his public education until he was admitted into Morehouse College for a program designed for high school students. There, he studied medicine and law, as he originally did not want to follow his father's footsteps to enter the ministry, but he ended up changing his mind. He then spent three years at the Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he was known for his incredible public speaking skills. Soon after, he was elected President of their student body and continued his academic success as the valedictorian of his class in 1951. Later, King also studied at Boston University, receiving a Ph.D in theology. There, he met his future wife, Coretta Scott, and they ended up having four children. 

Civil Rights Work

Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who believed in peaceful protests, and Henry David Thoreau, who taught about standing up for what's right. In December 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a bus, Martin Luther King Jr. helped lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott, which lasted for 381 days, protested bus segregation by not riding the buses at all. King's leadership led to the Supreme Court ruling in 1956 that bus segregation was unconstitutional. This victory made King a national leader in the Civil Rights Movement and showed the power of peaceful protest. 

Similarly, King was imprisoned in 1963 because of a successful campaign to end segregation in public facilities in Alabama. He wrote an appeal, known as "Letter from Birmingham Jail", which he argued that America was falling behind other countries in fighting for freedom and fairness.

Another time he protested was during the March On Washington. The March on Washington took place on August 28, 1963, and demanded civil rights in the U.S. Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand racial equality, jobs, and freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, calling for an end to racism. 

Martin Luther King Jr.'s bravery and hard work changed America for the better, inspiring millions to stand up for justice. His legacy continues to remind us that peaceful protest and kindness can make the world a better place for everyone. 

Call to action: You too can make a difference by treating everyone with kindness and standing up for what is right. Remember, even small acts of love and friendship can create a better world for everyone!

References

Britannica Kids. “Martin Luther King, Jr.,” n.d. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Martin-Luther-King-Jr/275278#234598-toc.

Lewis, David L., and Clayborne Carson. “Martin Luther King, Jr. | Biography, Speeches, Facts, & Assassination.” Encyclopedia Britannica, January 20, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr/The-Montgomery-bus-boycott.

Zapata, Christian. “Martin Luther King Jr: Day, Death, Quotes | HISTORY.” HISTORY, January 14, 2025. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/martin-luther-king-jr.