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Monday, January 19, 2009 is the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. School will resume on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, the son of an Atlanta pastor. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and was admitted to Morehouse College at the age of fifteen. He graduated from Morehouse College as an ordained Baptist minister in 1948 at the age of nineteen. In June of 1953 he married Correta Scott King and went on to earn a Doctorate in Theology from Boston University in 1955. On August 28, 1963 he delivered his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” in Washington D.C. In January, 1964, he was recognized as Time Magazine’s Man of the Year and in December of the same year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 outside of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was the first new holiday since 1948 when Memorial Day was created as a “prayer for peace” day. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the only other American besides President George Washington to have a national holiday designated for his birthday. President Lincoln’s birthday is acknowledged in California but not in all states. On November 2, 1983 President Reagan signed legislation creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day making it a national holiday on the third Monday in January. The first observance of holiday was on January 20, 1986. This holiday is meant to be a day to reflect upon the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change as promoted by Martin Luther King, Jr. This day is also a day to display the flag of the United States of America. “ . . . I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. . .” Back
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