Every January, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but do you know why? Who was Martin Luther King Jr., and why does he have a federal holiday?
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming up soon, it’s the perfect time for kids and students to learn who King was, what he achieved, and why we celebrate him!
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
King was a prominent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and ‘60s. At the time, the United States had many laws enforcing racial segregation: the separation of people of different races.
People of different races were not allowed to get married, attend the same schools, live in the same neighborhoods, or even sit in the same areas in public places. Minority groups, particularly African Americans, were given poorer treatment compared to white people.
King spoke out against racial segregation, discrimination, and injustice. His goal was to achieve equality for African Americans using nonviolent means, such as marches, sit-ins, boycotts, and other forms of civil disobedience.
What did he accomplish?
Throughout his time as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, King oversaw the end of many discriminatory laws in the United States.
1955: Desegregation of Montgomery buses
The beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement is marked by the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. On December 1st, Rosa Parks, another prominent civil rights activist, was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat when a white passenger sat down. The bus driver had ordered her to move because he did not allow Black passengers to sit in the same sections as white passengers.
After Parks’ arrest, King led a boycott of the city bus lines. He had 3 goals he hoped to achieve: 1) for all passengers to receive courteous treatment from bus drivers, 2) for seating to be on a first-come, first-serve basis, and 3) for African Americans to be hired as bus drivers.
African Americans, who had made up 75% of bus riders in Montgomery, AL, elected to carpool, take taxis, or walk instead of riding the bus. The city lost money because of the boycott, which made it an effective tactic. A little over a year later, on December 20th, 1956, the U.S. government declared segregated buses to be against the law. This outcome demonstrated that King’s nonviolent tactics could be powerful tools against racism.
1964: Civil Rights Act
King continued to work hard to eliminate racial injustice. In 1963, he led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, calling for equal treatment for all people. The March on Washington and King’s speech drew national attention to the injustices faced by Black Americans.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Shortly after, in 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, outlawing racial segregation and discrimination in housing, employment, education, and transportation. The act made it illegal to deny houses or jobs to African Americans based on their race, and it allowed Black students to attend the same schools as white students.
1965: Voting Rights Act
In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act to eliminate barriers for African Americans attempting to vote. In many places throughout the U.S., election officials used a variety of ways to suppress African-American votes. Sometimes officials would lie about the date, time, or polling place for the election so they could turn Black voters away, or they would give them a test beforehand; for example, the election official would tell them to recite the entire Constitution.
After the Voting Rights Act made voter suppression tactics like those illegal, many more Black Americans were able to exercise their right as U.S. citizens to vote. For example, voter turnout among African Americans in Mississippi increased from 6% in 1964 to 59% in 1969.
1968: King's assassination
On April 3rd, 1968, King traveled to Memphis, TN to support African-American city sanitation workers striking for livable wages and better working conditions. The next day, April 4th, King was assassinated.
How do we continue to see the effects of his legacy today?
King was an important leader in the Civil Rights Movement for 13 years, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 to his death in 1968. During those 13 years, the U.S. made great strides toward equality and justice for all people. Because of King and other activists like him, people of different races can get married, attend the same schools, live in the same neighborhoods, work the same jobs, and so much more.
King motivated and inspired generations to strive for equality and make the world a better place, and he demonstrated the importance of nonviolent activism. As we remember everything King accomplished, we can continue his work and try to eliminate other injustices in our society.
Take a moment to reflect
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed each year on the third Monday of January. That day was chosen so it would fall near King’s birthday, January 15th. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, reflect on King’s message with our Martin Luther King Jr. Printable Worksheet.
King made the world a better place through his leadership, and he inspired others to do the same. Use Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an opportunity to reflect on why and how he stood up to injustice, and remember that you can do the same. You can make a difference!
