December 30, 2022
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
January’s Federal Holiday
*** How it Was Created
By Eloise Graham
Martin Luther King Day is celebrated the third Monday in January. It is always on a Monday to stay in line with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was enacted on June 28, 1968. This act of Congress permanently moved three Federal Holidays to a Monday. Washington’s Birthday (which later became Presidents’ Day) on February 22 now is celebrated on the third Monday of February. Memorial Day that had been designated as May 30 now is the last Monday in May. Labor Day had been and still is celebrated the first Monday in September. This act also made Columbus Day, celebrated on October 12, a Federal Holiday and is celebrated on the second Monday of October.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Shortly after his assassination, there was a movement to make his birthday a holiday. It would take 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for the holiday to be approved by the federal government. It was on November 2, 1983, that President Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, designating the third Monday in January a Federal Holiday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, it is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities. Thanks, Dr. King, for your dream.
It would take another 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Some states already had their state holidays to recognize civil rights and didn’t see a need for the Federal Holiday. Some of the states from the South celebrated days designated to Robert E. Lee and Andrew Jackson and saw no reason to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Arizona and New Hampshire celebrate “Civil Rights Day.” Wyoming celebrates “Wyoming Equality Day.” Other states, like Alabama and Mississippi combine The King holiday with “Robert E. Lee Day” to honor the birthday of the Confederate General. Virginia celebrated “Jackson Lee King” celebrating Andrew Jackson and Robert E. Lee, then added Martin Luther King, Jr. when the federal government said they must. However, Martin Luther King Day has been recognized in all 50 states since early 2000.
During the 15 years it took to make this holiday, Stevie Wonder wrote a birthday song honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. – Here are some lines from it:
I just never understood
How a man who died for good
Could not have a day that would
Be set aside for his recognition …
in peace, our hearts will sing
Thanks to Martin Luther King
