Ally Action Project Week 31: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

We celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr Day, a federal holiday on 1/18/21, and we spent the week reflecting on some of his famous quotes and how the holiday came to be. There is a lesson in racism and overcoming racist systems even in the genesis story of the holiday. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in January and is a day of reflection and service to honor his legacy of fighting for civil rights. The holiday was 1st first proposed by John Conyers 4 days after MLK, Jr.’s assassination in 1968. The bill in congress did not get voted on until 1979, and was finally passed in 1983. The 1st celebration of MLK, Jr. Day was in 1986, but many states did not participate due to cost and racism. Many states wanted to celebrate without using his name, as they deemed he was a controversial figure, even 20+ years after his death. Some states opted for a Civil Rights holiday or even proclaimed the holiday Robert E. Lee Day in honor of the Confederate general who was a traitor to the US and was defeated in the Civil War by the Union. These racist options were continued microaggressions towards people of color the Civil Rights movement. The final state to correctly deem the holiday MLK, Jr. Day was New Hampshire, who began celebrating MLK, Jr. Day in 2000, 17 years after the holiday was signed into law by President Ronald Regan. It is fitting that the holiday was finally passed are being pushed for by regular people who rallied in support of defeating a racist sentiment. Those acts of service and light are exactly what MLK, Jr. spoke about in some of his most famous quotes:

“Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.” -MLK, Jr.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” -MLK, Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -MLK, Jr.

We honor MLK, Jr.’s legacy by making our ally action to serve others: https://americorps.gov/newsroom/events/mlk-day