Before and after his April 4, 1968 assassination, legendary activist, religious figure and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has made a significant impact on America to this day.

His impact is so strong, America started to observe a federal holiday in his name — known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In 1983, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law and it was first observed three years later. It falls on the third Monday of January for each year.

On Jan. 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. [born Michael King, Jr. ] was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Martin Luther King, Sr., was a reverend, Baptist pastor and Civil Rights figure. His mother, Alberta was a teacher before retiring to be a homemaker. In addition to MLK, Alberta gave birth to two other children, a boy and a girl.

King’s family, including his mother prior to her teaching career, came from a long line of Christian pastors and preachers, yet while some people may refuse to continue in their family’s footsteps, King stuck to his roots.

In the ‘60s, racial tensions were very high. The ‘60s were a time of significant change in American culture. Music was changing, politics were changing, and people were changing. Yet most people’s views on race weren’t. By each decade, Americans’ opinions are always going to be at change, but in this case, accepting other ethnic groups’ views and ideals was difficult.

(more…)

Tags: Alex Holley Fox 29, Black History Month, black voting rights, Celebrating Marting Luther King Jr., Christopher Leomporra, Kyle Lutz, Martin Luther King, Marting Luther King Jr., Philly media, Philly news, Philly Sports News, PhillyWood, TalkSportsPhilly, TalkSportsPhilly Salute, The Whit Online