Why is January 19th Martin Luther King Day?

2015-01-19T21:47:58-05:00

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.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 9:54 PM

2015-01-19T21:54:19-05:00

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

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]

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jan 20 at 2015 5:53 AM

2015-01-20T05:53:39-05:00

It isn't always in the 19th, I this every third Monday of the month of January. It's Federal law.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Dec 22 at 2015 1:34 PM

2015-12-22T13:34:33-05:00

Great Question!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 22 at 2015 2:05 PM

2015-12-22T14:05:08-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member 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?)

Response by SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS made Dec 22 at 2015 8:12 PM

2015-12-22T20:12:38-05:00

SFC Steven Grudzinski, I was playing baseball as a junior in high school in California. I was one of two black players on the team for the entire three years that I played. Right off the jump street some of my team mates did not understand what the big deal was with celebrating his day. As to the time with General Lee. I did not know that. It is interesting research.
Now, President Regean signed this into law. I suppose he could have advisors suggest the date for scruplous motives. Let me tell you my story man and say this, the days of reverse discrimination are going to bite blacks in the tail in the next 20 years. We will see the civil right laws repealed especially when our economy tanks again. Our media will see to that I am convinced.
but anyway.... my story what it means to me and why the date is not important to me at least. Maybe it should be but it is not really.

The day we went back to school after the holiday one of my mexican teammates told me during our warm ups. "Hey Dwight!! N..er.. day is over, now shine my shoes boy"
Now here is the thing. I grew up with these guys I loved them like my brothers. I did not know I was even suppose to think of myself as an odd ball around my white friends until I was in junior high school. I just was never treated like a second hand citizen. I must say after roots came out things changed a lot in terms of how I viewed myself and the N word was used much more on the playground and sports fields that I was exposed.
Culminated in 1985 in Modesto California went to a very rich high school with no blacks. A first baseman was pretty much starring at me the entire game. While shaking hands after the game I asked and he told me he had never seen a black person in real life before.
I later found out that in the area lived a grand wizzard in the clan in Ceres.
I tell you this story because regardless of the motives behind the holiday. You should be proud of our constitution and our founding fathers. I am.
Back then constitution recognized slavery for a long time. I had a white history teacher teach us at colorado state that the south won the war until 1968 based off the passing and the constitutional endorsement of the separate but equal theory. Of course we were separate but definately not equal. Slaves could not read, only knew slave work, where a lot were successful many more remained uneducated and were not given opportunity to get jobs.
Now, think about it. Do you really think in 1866 freed slaves were just given good jobs in Georgia, Texas, or Virginia when a war had just happened. No sir this is why quotas were needed in the first place in 1968. The same practices would Never been reversed Ever. I will bet my life on that my friend especially in the south.
Looking at the constitution of the united states prior to the civil war and after slavery was stopped, but continued under another name. segregation. Under segregation, blacks were not allowed to vote, hung at will, terrorized by the white sheet terrorists, this did not stop in 1865 but 1968. In 1968, blacks were not automatically going to blend in after Jim Crowe and be accepted in the mainstream society entirely especially in the north.

My dad benefited from quota at ups in Merced being the first black driver just because he was black. He went though hell for quite some time during his 29 years of driving after getting out of the army in 1968.
I decided that when I grow up I will earn what I get by the sweat of my brow not the color of my skin. This is probably why I never got SFC because I did not play poltics. I got out and busted my tail working hard not ever asking for a freebee.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2016 4:39 PM

2016-01-18T16:39:28-05:00

Although I cannot find any solid reasoning as to why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day is celebrated on the third Monday of January annually I can only speculate that it has something to do with his birthday (January 15, 1929) always being close to that date. The only solid information I could find in relation to the creation of this holiday is at the link provided below. If anyone wishes to gain a little Dr. King Day education please take a look at the link. It has the time line for the holiday.

http://www.thekingcenter.org/making-king-holiday

Making of The King Holiday | The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Share your dream now and visit the King Center Digital Archive to see more than 10,000 documents from Martin Luther King's personal collection and from the civil rights movement!

Response by SPC David S. made Jan 16 at 2017 12:32 PM

2017-01-16T12:32:13-05:00

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/

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.