Why We Should Celebrate MLK Day

      For many of us, Martin Luther King Day is merely a long weekend, but the legacy that King left is by far more important.  By nonviolently advocating for freedom, King dedicated his life and fighting for the promise of full civil rights in America.

Although MLK Day has ended, we can still appreciate his work.  Here is a short list of MLK's greatest wins:


1) He founded and served as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957)

The SCLC, for short, organized peaceful protests in southern states and helped influence legislation.  In one case, the SCLC organized the March on Washington, which was a peaceful protest just outside the white house.   It was intended to outlaw segregation nationwide.

2) His peace protests at the Birmingham Campaigns (1963)

The Birmingham Campaigns were possibly the most important of MLK's career.  They were a series of protests intended to desegregate Birmingham's merchants.  Thousands of school children fled school to join into the protest and were actually arrested or attacked by policemen! Though this story is sad, it had a silver lining.  The media swarmed the issue and broadcasted all over the country.  The public was so upset that the Kennedy administration had to intervene by forcing a settlement stating that the businesses must desegregate.

3) He gave a treasured speech at the March On Washington (1963) (see #1)

The March On Washington was one of several rallies organized by King.  The media and those political power feared what might come of the march because it seemed to be blowing up.  The event was set to include 200,000 to 300,000 participants, so it was only natural that they feared it becoming chaotic.  However, King and his supporters never turned violent, and he successfully delivered his "I Have A Dream" Speech

4) St. Augustine Riots and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed with regard to King.  In the North, the town of St. Augustine was overrun with racial tension.  Jails were overflowing with blacks who had participated in rallies, so King and the SCLC decided to stand up for the voiceless.  King and a few friends were arrested for trying to eat lunch at a white restaurant, but the controversy over his incarceration led to one of King's biggest gains: support for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  It outlawed discrimination based on sex, race, gender, and national origin.

5) He made huge strides at the segregated town of Selma (1964-5)

In Selma, Alabama, the civil rights of thousands of African Americans were stolen by an illegal injunction set by government officials.  The SCLC and King protested around Alabama for voter's civil rights, but many were actually arrested for doing so.  They were threatened by the White Citizens Council and the KKK.  Literacy tests were used to block African American voters, and it seemed hopeless.  Yet King and his squad continued to march peacefully around the government buildings, even though they were often attacked by police with teargas, clubs, horses, and bull whips.  A few members were shot.  This event became known as "Bloody Sunday."  It took months and months of marches, as well as a few casualties, but finally Lyndon B. Johnson responded, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was born.

Sources: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/