What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, near his birthday on January 15th.

There was controversy surrounding this holiday when it was first introduced, as a national holiday that celebrates a private citizen goes against tradition. Up until this point, the only two national American holidays named after a person had been somebody who had held public office, George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

These holidays have since evolved into Presidents’ Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day for many, so MLK Day is now the only national observance for an individual. There were also concerns that a paid federal holiday would be too expensive.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to create Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the first year it was observed was in 1986. It took fifteen years after his death to become official. He was such an important figure in American civil rights and desegregation that the nation reflects on his mission of striving for racial equality every year.

When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024 falls on Monday, January 15th.

Read More: Top 10 Martin Luther King Day Activities for Kids

Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?

Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader who led nonviolent protests to help achieve equal rights for African Americans. He followed his father to become a Baptist pastor, and he joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the fifties, as well as forming the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and working with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) on nonviolent protests.

He spent his most prominent years advocating for the civil rights of Black Americans, who had never been treated equally since the abolition of slavery. Water fountains were still labeled as “Black” and “White”, and African Americans had to sit at the back of the bus (Rosa Parks was another Black American protesting this who prompted King to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1957).

MLK Jr. saw the inequality and segregation that was normalized in American society and began to take a stand against it by organizing nonviolent protests and speaking publicly, his most famous speech being the “I Have a Dream” speech at the landmark March on Washington in 1963.

In 1964, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. However, he experienced resistance and threats from opponents during his years of activism. Four years later, he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Following his death, there were riots throughout the nation. The man convicted of shooting King was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

How can we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024?

In America, some employees are given a day off, and most schools and universities have a day off from their usual studies. This holiday honors the impact he had on society. People are encouraged to use this time as a day of service to their local communities, doing voluntary work in the spirit of Dr. King.

There are many MLK tributes that you can visit on this day, including parades and museums that honor him. You can learn about the American Civil Rights Movement and social justice issues of modern times. Younger students might not be ready for the full story of race and conflict in America, but you can study Black history and influential people from Black communities together.

Do you have any resources to help?

Here at Twinkl, you’ll find an incredible range of high-quality, teacher-created resources to help you educate your kids on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024, including worksheets, PowerPoints, speech-writing activities, puzzles, and more! To help you get started, we’ve listed below some of our most popular resources, which save you time when lesson planning and are all available for instant download:

“I Have A Dream” Writing Prompt Martin Luther King Jr. Quote Reflection Activity Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.? PowerPoint Martin Luther King Jr. Timeline