The country honors the former civil rights leader as they welcome President Obama to his second term all in the same day.
Monday, January 21st marks the day the country honors the most prominent civil rights leader in American history, Martin Luther King Jr. The day also happens to line up with the official inauguration ceremony of the first black president into his second term as United States president. The Presidential oath usually occurs on January 20th, but the coinciding of the two dates caused the president to push back the public ceremony one day to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Monday morning several dozen people showed up in Washington to take their picture with the MLK Jr. Memorial and read his quotes inscribed along the wall before making their way to the National Mall where Obama gave his inaugural address. It’s difficult to believe that only 50 years ago the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
In the last year of his life, King’s speeches and writings called for people, including the black community, to embrace and appreciate their heritage and culture. The civil rights leader worked for and loved America. Dr. King was a transformational leader who inspired a movement to change the nation. This special day allows everyone to reflect on what King stood for and taught us over 50 years ago.
Credits: Huffington Post | CNN
