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This question will probably raise some eyebrows and hopefully have other asking the same question. What I don't want it to do is cause racial bickering it is merely a question from one historian to others.
Dr. Martin Luther King was born on January 15, 1929 and died on April 4, 1968. He gave his famouse dream speech on August 28, 1963. However I cannot find that he did anything significant on the 19th. So the question comes to mind, Why was that date, 19 January chosen as the day for him to be remembered?
It took 15 years after King's assassination before the federal holiday honoring him was made official.
Now one of the significant things that did happen in the US on January 19 was the birth of General Robert E. Lee in 1807. He was one of the most famous Generals in American history regardless of your personal views of the civil war.
There is speculation that 19 January was adopted as MLK to spite General Lee and the racist south that he represented and pacify the civil rights movement.
I personally don't know the answer to this question but I would think that those that wanted to honor Dr. King wouldn't want his memorial day associated someone that promoted racial inequality and at the time slavery.
Dr. Martin Luther King was born on January 15, 1929 and died on April 4, 1968. He gave his famouse dream speech on August 28, 1963. However I cannot find that he did anything significant on the 19th. So the question comes to mind, Why was that date, 19 January chosen as the day for him to be remembered?
It took 15 years after King's assassination before the federal holiday honoring him was made official.
Now one of the significant things that did happen in the US on January 19 was the birth of General Robert E. Lee in 1807. He was one of the most famous Generals in American history regardless of your personal views of the civil war.
There is speculation that 19 January was adopted as MLK to spite General Lee and the racist south that he represented and pacify the civil rights movement.
I personally don't know the answer to this question but I would think that those that wanted to honor Dr. King wouldn't want his memorial day associated someone that promoted racial inequality and at the time slavery.
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 7
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SFC (Join to see) More importantly, to create this holiday they merged Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays into President's day. THAT chapped my ass, hard. And no, nothing to do with race, and everything to do with two of the most important Americans that ever lived...without taking anything away from King. (ie, why couldn't they simply have ADDED his day?)
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A quick google search provided this. Basically there is a law on the books that makes sure that some holidays always fall on a Monday to ensure that federal employees get a three day weekend for that holiday. That law doesn't apply directly to MLK Day, but when the law was passed making it a federal holiday that is just how it was written in. For example in 2016 it will be on the 18th, in 2014 it was on the 20th. No conspiracy or background reasoning here, sorry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr._Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Monday_Holiday_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr._Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Monday_Holiday_Act
Uniform Monday Holiday Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act (Pub.L. 90–363) is an Act of Congress that amended the federal holiday provisions of the United States Code to establish the observance of certain holidays on Mondays. The Act was signed into law on June 28, 1968 and took effect on January 1, 1971.[1]
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SFC (Join to see)
Yes , I am aware of that however as you stated, some, not all. Veterans Day this year is on a Wednesday for example.
The question is still there, why the 19th? There are a lot of Monday's in a year.
The question is still there, why the 19th? There are a lot of Monday's in a year.
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I would agree it was done so to counter Robert E. Lee day. It is in the books for Florida as well. Religion has used the same tactics with great success to counter pagan holidays so why not..
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/martin-luther-king-jr-day-robert-e-lee-birthday-holiday/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/martin-luther-king-jr-day-robert-e-lee-birthday-holiday/
The Controversial History of Martin Luther King Day
Three states celebrate civil rights leader Martin Luther King and Civil War General Robert E. Lee on the same day. Here’s why.
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