Monday, Jan. 20, marks the annual national holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The holiday celebrates the history and achievements of the Georgia-born civil rights activist. Dr. King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, and his legacy is celebrated every third Monday of January.
To celebrate Dr. King’s legacy, the entire school attended a chapel, where students and faculty sang and honored the life of Dr. King. Following his death in 1968, his life’s work is still revered all across the United States.
“I really liked the Martin Luther King chapel,” junior Elizabeth Fox said. “It was interesting to learn about the minor events in his life that aren’t as publicized,”
Dr. King is known for his numerous achievements, including leading the non-violent civil rights movement. His work led to the Civil Rights Act in 1964, ending segregation, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, according to NAACP.
Dr King is best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, where he shared his dreams for the future of America at the Washington Monument in 1963 Dr King’s dream became the dream of a generation of Black Americans, according to the US Embassy.
In chapel, students listened to many quotations and excerpts from Dr. King’s most famous sayings, including “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” which was inspiring for many students, according to Fitchner.
“I think that his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech is so important and inspiring,” junior Phillippa Fitchner said. “The impact it had and still has is amazing,”
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was made a national holiday on Jan. 20, 1986, exactly 39 years prior to the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day this upcoming Monday. Dr. King aided the civil rights movement through boycotts and peaceful protests to end racial segregation in the United States, according to NAACP.
“I think that MLK day is such an important holiday for our country,” Fox said. “It represents our history and the impact of one man on a generation of people.”
