Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2019

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15^th, 1929, and every year we celebrate his life and achievements on the third Monday of January. This year Martin Luther King Jr. Dayopens a new window falls on January 21^st.

Dr. King was a civil rights leader and fought for the equal rights and treatment of all people, but especially African Americans. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. King saw many injustices while he was a child that inspired him to preach as a minister for the equal rights of all people. He learned about peaceful, non-violent protests by studying Mohandas Ghandi and used his philosophy to propel the American Civil Rights Movement, which led to equal rights for African Americans.

Dr. King also fought tirelessly for improved working wages for groups such as the sanitation workers of Memphis, Tennessee. On April 3^rd, 1968 Dr. King gave his famous speech, "I've Been to the Mountain Top"opens a new window at Mason Temple in support of the Memphis sanitation workers' strike. The following day, on April 4^th, 1968, he was assassinated on the balcony outside his Memphis motel by a man who did not believe in Dr. King's dream of love and equality.

How Can You Honor Dr. King?

Since this day is a federal holiday, many people will be home from work or school. You can best honor his memory by spreading his message of unconditional love, acceptance, and selfless service to humanity. You can volunteer at a local non-profit, partake in several acts of kindness throughout the day, or learn more about Dr. King's works through our extensive library collection.

I will personally be using this day to listen to Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech"opens a new window and "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. I will also read Memphis, Martin and the Mountaintop by Alice Faye Duncan to my 6 year old daughter and walk around the neighborhood refelcting on the freedoms that were made possible by Dr. King's tireless service to promote love, acceptance, and peace among humanity.