When is MLK Day 2024? What Dr. King is known for and how to honor his civil rights legacy
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Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist.
Born on Jan. 15, 1929, King led the civil rights movement in the United States during the mid-1950s until his death. He played a major role in ending the legal segregation of African Americans throughout the South and other parts of the U.S.
King first garnered attention as the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and his use of nonviolent tactics, including the March on Washington in 1963. He was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
MLK Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, while standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel.
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What is Martin Luther King Jr. known for?
Not to be confused with Martin Luther, a German theologian who was a major figure of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is known for his work in the American civil rights movement during the 1960s.
He was a big advocate of nonviolent methods of protesting.
His most famous contribution was his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.
About 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to demand the end of segregation and for fair wages, economic justice, voting rights, education and civil rights protections. During his speech, King talked about his dream of a country without segregation and racism.
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What was Martin Luther King a doctor of?
King graduated from Pennsylvania's Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951 with a divinity degree. He got his Ph.D. in systematic theology at Boston University's graduate school in 1955.
When is MLK Day 2024?
MLK Day will be on Jan. 15, 2024.
What day does MLK Day fall on each year?
MLK Day falls on or near King's birthday It is observed on the third Monday of January each year.
What does MLK Day symbolize?
MLK Day celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The day is usually observed with rallies, marches and speeches by politicians and civil rights leaders.
People are encouraged to “reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Dr. King,” according to the Congress of Racial Equality.
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What is the theme for MLK Day 2024?
The theme for MLK Day in 2024 is “Shifting the cultural climate through the study and practice of Kingian Nonviolence.” King’s work showed that Kingian Nonviolence is a sustainable solution to injustice and violence in the world, according to The King Center.
Kingian Nonviolence is a practice derived from King’s philosophy and methodology of individuals and communities learning to work on areas of conflict without resorting to violence.
How do you respectfully celebrate MLK Day?
There are many ways to acknowledge and respectfully celebrate MLK Day. Here are some examples from Teach for America:
Talk to someone in your community who can provide a firsthand account of life during the Civil Rights Era.
Purchase or go to the library and get books about King.
Find ways to support the National Civil Rights Museum or get involved with a local historical society.
Advocate for everyone's civil rights by becoming an election worker or helping others register to vote.
Is it appropriate to say 'Happy Martin Luther King Day'?
Since MLK Day is one of remembrance for King and to reflect on racial equality, it might not be the most appropriate to say "Happy Martin Luther King Day."
Instead, opt for ways to celebrate respectfully, participate in local observances and educate yourself on the civil rights movement.
Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: When is MLK Day 2024? Why we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
