Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

 

 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States of America, which celebrates the birthday of MLKJr.  Dr. King was very concerned with civil rights, particularly, with racial discrimination within federal and state law.  

The holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986, but it was not until the year 2000 that all 50 states observed the holiday as a national holiday.

King's most famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which took place in Washington D.C. continues to be an important part of American culture and history.  Below is an excerpt from that speech:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today."

 Here is a video from this speech with the thousands of people in attendance:

 

Subtitles are in Spanish for your convenience.