Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024

About the Doodle:

Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 and studied at Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University before devoting his life to activism. He became nationally recognized in 1955 while leading the year-long Montgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat. He didn’t stop until the city desegregated its bus system.

Dr. King gave speeches on issues of injustice across the world. His most iconic address was during the 1963 March on Washington which King helped to plan.. Around 250,000 people demanded legal equality for all, and his “I Have a Dream” speech inspired them to continue peaceful protesting. Dr. King’s influential role in demonstrations contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed public segregation.

In 1965, Dr. King participated in another impactful event that led to legislation — the Selma to Mongomery march (depicted in today’s Doodle). The peaceful crowd of protestors demanded an end to racial discrimination in voting and listened intently as Dr. King delivered his “How Long? Not Long.” speech. This rally was key to passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He never stopped fighting for equal rights despite being arrested upwards of 20 times, stating that freedom is worth going to jail for, losing a job for, and dying for.

Today, a memorial for Dr. King stands in D.C., and nationwide, many streets, schools, and libraries are named after him. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the only federal holiday that is a national day of service, has been observed since 1986 to honor his civil rights contributions. His legacy inspires people to work toward social justice; many honor him on this day by volunteering or taking action to better their community.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!