Meraj Hashmi
Canva.com
1. National Holiday
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday of January in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a national holiday, officially approved in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.
2. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi
Dr. King was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence from India, and followed Gandhi's principles in his movements.
3. Montgomery Bus Boycott
His most famous nonviolent protest was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is considered the first major mass movement in the U.S.
4. Youngest Nobel Laureate
In 1964, Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35, making him the youngest recipient at that time. He donated the prize money to civil rights movements.
5. "America's Gandhi"
Dr. King was often referred to as "America's Gandhi" due to his nonviolent activism and inspiration drawn from Gandhi.
6. Doctorate in Theology
Dr. King earned a doctorate in theology from Boston University in 1955. He was already delivering public speeches before receiving the title of "Doctor."
7. A Pivotal Year in Life
The year 1955 was highly significant in his life—it marked his marriage, his invitation to preach, and the start of the bus boycott following Rosa Parks' arrest.
8. Birthplace
Dr. King was born in 1929 in Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, U.S.
9. Tragic End
On April 4, 1968, while supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King was assassinated. Following his death, riots broke out in 125 cities across the U.S., further intensifying the civil rights movement.
10. Did Not Intend to Be a Political Leader
Dr. King never envisioned becoming a prominent civil rights leader; he simply wanted to serve his community as a pastor.
11. Connection to the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln
Dr. King's original name was "Michael," but his father later changed it to "Martin Luther," after the leader of the Protestant Reformation.
12. "I Have a Dream" Speech
On August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Dr. King delivered his iconic speech envisioning a future of racial equality and harmony.
13. Honored on the Golden Record
Dr. King’s "I Have a Dream" speech was included on NASA's Golden Record, which was sent into space aboard the Voyager spacecraft.
14. Dedicated Postage Stamp
In 1986, Dr. King became the first African-American leader to be honored with a postage stamp by the U.S. Postal Service.
15. Prophetic Final Speech
Dr. King’s final speech, "I’ve Been to the Mountaintop," was delivered the day before his assassination. In it, he indirectly hinted at his own death.