January 17, 2022, the third Monday in January, is being celebrated at Martin Luther King, Jr Day.
In 1983, over objections from Southern lawmakers, President Ronald Reagan finally signed a bill creating the holiday into law and the first celebrations of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day took place in January 1986—although it would take another decade for states such as Arizona and South Carolina to follow suit.
2000 saw the full recognition of MLK Day by Utah and Virginia, though the holiday still existed in some form for those states. South Carolina has the dubious honor of being the last state in the nation to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a paid state holiday. Up until then, a choice had been offered between MLK Day and three other Confederate holidays. This decision coincided with the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina’s State House dome at the capitol.
For a rundown of MLK appearances in South Carolina, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for A look (via YouTube) at Martin Luther King. Jr’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech on the Mall in Washington, DC.
And TIME Magazine has an interesting look at how MLK “Changes His Mind About America” CLICK HERE