Fun facts about Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Did you know? In the early 1980s, the musician Stevie Wonder released a song called Happy Birthday to help campaign for the holiday, and it became an anthem that helped convince lawmakers to finally sign the bill into law.

Fact 1 of 27

27 facts about Martin Luther King Jr. Day

  1. 1
    For a short period in the 1980s, the holiday was bizarrely combined with other state-specific observances, such as Lee-Jackson-King Day in Virginia, which merged the birthday of Dr. King with Confederate generals.
  2. 2
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday in the United States that is designated as a national day of service, encouraging people to volunteer and improve their local communities.
  3. 3
    The bill for the holiday received so much support that it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 338 to 90.
  4. 4
    Many people assume that because it is a federal holiday, all private businesses are legally required to close, but they are actually free to choose whether to open or stay shut.
  5. 5
    The holiday was created to honor Dr. King's work for equality and his leadership in the civil rights movement.
  6. 6
    Stevie Wonder wrote the hit song Happy Birthday specifically to help campaign for the holiday's creation.
  7. 7
    It is a weird coincidence that the holiday often falls close to the week of the presidential inauguration, causing scheduling headaches in Washington D.C.
  8. 8
    The holiday serves as a day where many museums offer free admission to teach the public about civil rights history.
  9. 9
    In the state of Utah, the holiday was once known as Human Rights Day before it was eventually changed to match the federal name.
  10. 10
    Some people celebrate the holiday by cooking Dr. King's favorite soul food meals, such as fried chicken and pecan pie.
  11. 11
    If you look at the legislative record, the bill to create the holiday was one of the most debated pieces of legislation in the 1980s.
  12. 12
    The federal legislation required the holiday to take effect on the third Monday of January, starting in 1986.
  13. 13
    It is surprisingly common for people to accidentally call the holiday Martin Luther King Day, leaving out the 'Jr.' entirely.
  14. 14
    The holiday is one of only four federal holidays that commemorate a specific person, joining Washington, Columbus, and Jesus Christ.
  15. 15
    The holiday is not exclusively a 'day off' but is intended by law to be a day of reflection and community improvement.
  16. 16
    The holiday is officially designated as a National Day of Service, encouraging people to volunteer in their local communities.
  17. 17
    Before it was a federal holiday, some cities and individual businesses began observing it on their own as early as 1971.
  18. 18
    President Ronald Reagan was initially opposed to the holiday but eventually signed it into law because of the overwhelming public support.
  19. 19
    In some parts of the country, the day is officially recognized as Civil Rights Day instead of specifically focusing on King.
  20. 20
    When the bill to create the holiday was voted on in the Senate, Senator Jesse Helms brought a 300-page binder to try to smear King's reputation to stop the vote.
  21. 21
    Some states used to combine the holiday with Robert E. Lee Day, creating a very awkward and conflicting celebratory calendar.
  22. 22
    Coretta Scott King, his widow, played the primary role in pushing for the holiday, treating it as a lifelong mission.
  23. 23
    Many people believe the holiday was created immediately after his death, but it took 15 years of intense legislative lobbying to make it happen.
  24. 24
    The holiday was first celebrated in 1986, which was nearly two decades after Dr. King's assassination.
  25. 25
    While the holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of January, it is not always on his actual birthday, January 15; the date was chosen as a compromise to follow the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, ensuring the day falls near his birthday while providing a long weekend.
  26. 26
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, which means most post offices, banks, and public schools close down for the day to honor his work in the civil rights movement.
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