Why is Martin Luther King Jr Day not on his birthday?
MARTIN Luther King Jr’s legacy is celebrated annually on the third Monday of January.
This year, the holiday will be celebrated on January 16, 2023, a day after what would have been Dr King's 94th birthday.
Why is Martin Luther King Jr Day not on his birthday?
Martin Luther King Jr was born on January 15, 1963, but his birthday is not the only reason why the holiday became a nationwide celebration.
When Representative John Conyers, D-Mich, introduced legislation for a federal holiday four days after his assassination in 1968, it marked the start of an informal commemoration to honor Dr King’s life.
The following year, on Dr King’s birthday, annual ceremonies were launched by The King Center in Atlanta.
The center called for nationwide ceremonies and began working to gain support for the holiday.
The day became a federal holiday in 1983 when President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law.
Yet, the holiday was first formally celebrated in 1986.
At first, some states resisted observing the holiday, but in the year 2000, all 50 states decided to honor it.
The celebration does not only aim to honor Dr King’s birthday but all the civil rights advances he chartered while alive.
Although the holiday sometimes lands on Dr. King’s birthday depending on the calendar, this year the holiday lands on January 16, 2023.
What do people do on the holiday?
The commemoration is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or any other backgrounds.
In recent years, private organizations and federal legislation have encouraged Americans to volunteer their time on the day.
The day has become the most recognized day on the calendar for community service.
Is Martin Luther King Day a paid holiday?
Since it is a federal holiday, all federal employees are paid for working even if they receive the day off.
Many private employees will also receive paid time off or special holiday pay on the holiday.