Cover of Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr. was the man who behind much of the African-American civil rights movement. He is the person who led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and delivered the well-known "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
(Image found on Google Images.)
Sadly, he was assassinated on April 4th, 1968.
The US federal holiday was first observed in 1986, meant to coincide with King's birthday on January 15th. But despite being signed into law by Ronald Reagan in 1983 it was only observed--by all 50 states--in 2000.
So, for those of you in the USA (and, according to Wikipedia, Hiroshima, Japan and Toronto, Canada) have a great holiday--and remember the man that it is meant to honor.
-----The Golden Eagle
