Quick Post: Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024

Well, here we are again! We somehow made it to 2024, which means that I was contractually obligated to pen (or rather type) my annual MLK Day post. So join Planet Whiz Kid on its 5th Annual King Celebration! (Not intended for Charles.)

Today we’ll be taking a quick peek at the three biggest events that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped shape as a result of his civil rights advocacy. Dr. King first came into the national spotlight in 1955, and continually devoted his gifts of public speaking and domestic influence to the righteous cause of equality until his tragic death in 1968.

So, with Dr. King’s unprecedented legacy in mind, let’s look at the top trailblazing and history-shifting occurrences in the United States that were championed by the peacemaker himself.

3. Widespread Desegregation

The Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education is viewed as one of the most significant landmark cases in judicial history. The Warren Court’s unanimous 1954 ruling that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional was only the beginning, however. Black people were still unjustly forced to sit at the back of the bus, sleep in separate hotels, and use “Colored” restrooms. The humiliating Jim Crow laws slowly faded away throughout the ’50s and ’60s thanks to the greatly influential Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through 1955 and 1956. That of course began with Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on one of those very Alabama buses. Eventually, the segregation on Montgomery public buses was banned by a United States District Court, which marked progress in the trend of knocking down prejudiced laws. King’s organizing of the movement which lasted over a year marked his debut in the public eye and established him as a leading voice of activism; his influence had only just begun.

2. The Civil Rights & Voting Rights Acts

Fast-forward about a decade later to see LBJ sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and then the Voting Rights Act one year later. So what happened in between the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the passing of these massively consequential laws? Dr. King had been arrested several times (ironically for advocating peace), and his name had only grown in importance. He had given rousing, potent speeches that pointed exactly to what was wrong with the nation, and had been a victim of merciless attacks by the FBI. The Montgomery preacher was the key figure behind early 1960s civil rights events such as the Albany Movement, the Birmingham Campaign, and, perhaps most importantly, the March on Washington. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the role of Commander-in-Chief and coordinated with Dr. King to pass legislation that would ensure complete civil equality. King’s political and social impact led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, forbidding any type of discrimination in the United States based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Not long after came the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a response to the Southern practice of mandating requirements such as literacy tests in order to vote; a clear attempt to disenfranchise black people. Where the CRA disallowed racial discrimination when it came to social actions, the VRA precluded racial discrimination when it came to voting. While LBJ was the one to make these laws happen federally, you can thank MLK for ultimately being the indirect author.

1. Altering the Course of Change

Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is one of peace, prosperity, and hope. As we as a nation continue marching towards his dream, we always remember his commitment to change society through nonviolent means. His words ring true yesterday, today, and tomorrow:

Enjoy the holiday, and keep in mind why we celebrate it. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Whiz Kid out