In the United States, students look forward to an extra Monday off that’s filled with social gatherings, historical recognitions, and time spent with loved ones each year. On that same Monday, businesses are closed, people go out of town, and the celebration commences. Nationwide, we know this day as Martin Luther King Jr. day, which occurs on the third Monday of every January which leads to the exciting long weekend.

A holiday meant to commemorate the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the civil rights movement is observed all over the United States Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia into a middle class family. Though his family life was filled with love it still didn’t prevent him from experiencing the prejudice and racism that encompassed the south.

King recalled one of his earliest memories, from when he was six, being told that he couldn’t play with his friend because they would be going to segregated schools. He attended segregated schools growing up but went to the north to spend time on a tobacco farm before starting college. Here he was amazed how both races went to the same churches, business, and conglomerated in the same public spaces. Seeing the peace between people there only fueled his resentment for racial injustice and segregation. King went into ministry during college where he became committed to fighting racial inequality and moved into social action. During his seminarian courses, MLK became acquainted with Mahatma Gandhi's teachings especially his principles on non-violent protests.

After marrying and moving to Alabama, MLK was elected as the leader of the Montgomery Improvement Association in order to boycott the public transit system. From there, King’s involvement in the civil rights movement skyrocketed. He arranged peaceful protests, demonstrations, and marches, one his most famous ones was known as the March on Washington, where he gave the prominent “I Have A Dream '' speech on August 28, 1963. King’s key role paved the way to the eventual passing of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and that same year he went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Four years later, Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King day was approved to be an official holiday in 1983 after 32 years of consistent campaigning, especially by The King Center in Atlanta who pushed congress hard for its creation and approval. The bill was introduced and passed by 53 votes. Ronald Reagan signed the bill in November of 1983 and the first federal King holiday was celebrated in 1986. It took longer for the states to individually adopt it and it came with much resistance from southern states like Arizona and North Carolina.

All 50 states made it a state government holiday by 2000 and is now celebrated nationwide. Martin Luther King Day not only commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. but helps people to focus on civil rights issues, as a whole, and calls the community out to public service.