Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national holiday. It is in honor of Dr. King's birthday, which is on January 15, but it is always celebrated on the third Monday in January. Because it is a national holiday, schools, banks, post offices, libraries, and government buildings are closed. People celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by remembering all the good things Dr. King did. Teachers give lessons about the history of slavery in the United States, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the philosophy and teachings of Dr. King. News programs play videos of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream Speech." Sometimes, the President of the United States makes a statement about the importance of Dr. King's dream. Civil rights leaders attend forums to discuss the progress and current status of minority rights in the United States and the influence Dr. King had on them and the American legal and political system. (3-page lesson)
What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?
It is an American holiday to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King.
King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on the third Monday in January.
Was Dr. King a good student?
Yes, he was. He finished high school when he was just 15 years old.
He liked school and he earned many degrees:
1. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1948
2. Bachelor of Divinity in 1951
3. Doctor of Philosophy in 1955