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"peo ples" © 1997 Zoe Levenglick-Volpe (age 11)


The Holiday


"Free at last, free at last
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last"


Each year on the third Monday of January schools, federal offices, post office and banks across America close as we celebrate the newest American national holiday

15 years after Dr. King's death President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law making the third Monday of January a national holiday celebrating the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

But it was a tough time getting the bill passed

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First a bill had to be introduced by a member of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House assigned the bill to a committee where the bill was discussed in detail. Meetings were held where supporters and opposers could discuss their positions. The committee then agreed that bill should be sent to a vote. The Rules Committee scheduled a debate on the issue. The House of Representatives then voted on the bill. It passed the House with a vote of 338 to 90. Then it was sent to the Senate

Again the issue of the King holiday had to pass through committees and public hearings before a final vote was taken

There were many who opposed the idea of holiday for Dr. King. America had only honored two individuals with national holidays - George Washington and Christopher Columbus. Many felt that there were other Americans that deserved a national holiday, such as Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy

One barrier to the confirmation was the Senator from Georgia who had denounced Dr. King as a communist

Others feared the King holiday was meant as a way to make up to African-Americans for slavery. Other feared the cost of the holiday, with the extra overtime paid to federal workers who had to work on the holiday as well as millions to those federal employees who were paid for the day

Senator Bob Dole pointed out to those critics '"I suggest they hurry back to their pocket calculators and estimate the cost of 300 years of slavery, followed by a century or more of economic, political and social exclusion and discrimination"

It took many years for Congress to decide to celebrate the holiday. In the years leading up to the official decree many African-Americans celebrated the birthday themselves with a few states declaring King's birthday a state holiday. The bill was finally passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and was signed into law on November 2, 1983

The first national celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday took place January 20, 1986. This year the King holiday will be celebrated on Monday January 19, 2009. The theme of this years holiday is Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!!




Related Articles:
Video & Text of King's 'I Have a Dream' Speech
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Coloring Pictures
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: The Man
The Emancipation Days of Respect
Did You Know? (Three Decades in the Civil Rights Movement)




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Comments
Comment
HALIM
17:07 11/02/2009
 
I WANT TO ASSIST THIS HOLIDAY IF IT IS POSSIBLE
Comment
barney from Colorado, US
16:16 10/06/2009
 
this is not good info i need to know the first day mlk day was celebrated on.. can u get that information fast ???
Comment
jenny from California, US
12:41 05/28/2009
 
Martin Luther was the nicest guy ever.... He rocks!
Comment
unknown from Minnesota, US
14:06 05/18/2009
 
hey i think this man is the best he has made a big change and know one shall forget about him not now and not ever.....
Comment
blondieeee c[= from Florida, US
10:38 05/11/2009
 
this saved my life! it helped me soooooo soooooo much! c[=
Comment
bob the builder from Alaska, US
13:35 04/23/2009
 
hey this is great info on mlk
Comment
Billy Bob Joe the 193rd from Massachusetts, US
20:11 03/18/2009
 
MLK stands for Martin Luther King and MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment
Chantelle from Tennessee, US
06:13 03/17/2009
 
Oh My Gosh He Is A Hero And Iii Do Thank Him He Is AMAZIING Thank Yall Very much!!! x
Comment
Alaisha myers from Pennsylvania, US
17:19 03/07/2009
 
My friend is wite and ia am black and we are best friend s forever if it was not for him we would not be friends if he was still here i would thank him
Comment
bob
14:06 03/04/2009
 
hi is hero




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