{"id":22703,"date":"2023-01-16T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T05:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com\/?p=22703"},"modified":"2024-06-18T16:29:52","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T06:29:52","slug":"why-we-celebrate-martin-luther-king-jr-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com\/why-we-celebrate-martin-luther-king-jr-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where the color of their skin will not judge them, but by the content of their character.” <\/em><\/p>\n

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is dedicated to honoring the incredible leader and American civil rights advocate who spent his life campaigning for equality for people of all colors.<\/p>\n

Aside from the extra day off school and work, what does Martin Luther King Jr. Day stand for, and why should we all take a moment to pay our respects and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.?<\/p>\n

Below, we cover the history of the day and its importance, and offer a few resources to explore this special day – today and throughout the year.<\/p>\n

When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January each year.\u00a0 It\u2019s held on this day as it\u2019s close to Dr. King’s birthday on the 15th of January. In 2023, the day will be acknowledged on the 16th of January.<\/p>\n

According to the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights<\/a>, the day should be viewed as “a day on, not a day off\u201d and is the only federal holiday designated a national day of service by Congress.<\/p>\n

Why Do We Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Dr. King lived and led by example – writing, speaking, and marching to raise awareness, educate and advocate for the rights of all. He stood up for what he believed in and spoke out against the unfairness, inequality, and racism he saw in his communities.<\/p>\n

We celebrate MLK Day in honor of action, speaking up, and helping each other – just as Dr. King did.<\/p>\n

As a day of service, we are all encouraged to think about how we can be more active participants in our communities. It\u2019s a time to reflect on what actions we can take to address\u00a0 social problems, bridge barriers, and keep up the momentum of Dr. King\u2019s vision of equality for all.<\/p>\n

Why Martin Luther King Day Jr. is Still So Relevant<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In recent years, Dr. King’s teachings have become even more relevant. In the 1960s, when Dr. King led his civil rights movement, he wanted to raise awareness of the covert and overt structures and barriers across all parts of society, preventing people from succeeding and securing the support they need.<\/p>\n

The Black Lives Matter<\/a> movement and high-profile deaths of civilians at the hands of police, such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, have resonated with millions across the globe as they highlight just how much there is still to be done to create the just, fair and equal societies we all want to be a part of.<\/p>\n

MLK Day is an excellent opportunity to have conversations about this in our classrooms and workplaces to uncover new ways we can work together to keep bringing Dr. King’s vision to reality.<\/p>\n

How to Honor MLK Day This Year<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are many ways to live in service, raise your awareness and educate yourselves and others this MLK Day.<\/p>\n

Below we\u2019ve compiled a few of our favorite resources to help get you started – are there any others you\u2019d add (let us know in the comments!).<\/p>\n

Books & Resources to Read<\/strong><\/h5>\n

There are LOTS of articles online and books you\u2019ll be able to find in your local library all about Dr. King, his work, and what his civil rights movement created within our communities.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of our favs:<\/p>\n