Happy Tuesday, BetterMost!!!!
Yes, today is my birthday, and I'll be running throughout the day, to check my bday thread, very excitedly!
But now, I'm not going to discuss my birthday. I have something else I'd like to discuss.
Today is the also the birthday of a great, and important man. His name is Martin Luther King Jr. As a gay man, I could not be more honored to be born on the same date as someone who fought so hard for civil rights.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on Jan. 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His education included a docorate in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree.
In December of 1955, Martin Luther King lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. Martin Luther was arrested himself, and had his house bombed. His trial led to the Supreme Court decision that outlawed racial segregation on all public transportation.
He was able to bring hundreds of thousands of people together in non violent protests, believing he should follow the example of Mahatma Ghandi. Martin Luther held many non violent marches and helped black people to get the right to vote, earned them desegregation, labor rights, and other basic civil rights. These rights were enacted into law with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In 1963, Martin Luther helped organize the March on Washington, which was held in an attempt to end to racial segregation in public school; create meaningful civil rights legislation, including a law prohibiting racial discrimination in employment; protection of civil rights workers from police brutality; a $2 minimum wage for all workers; and self-government for the District of Columbia, then governed by congressional committee.
It was here that Martin Luther gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, that is considered one of the best speeches in American history.
On April 4th, 1968, Martin Luther King was in Memphis, Tennesee to support striking black sanitary public works employees. He was on the balcony of his hotel room when he was shot and killed.
Martin Luther King had won many awards, including The Marcus Garvey Prize for Human Rights, the American Liberties Medallion, and the Nobel Peace Prize.
King's wife, Coretta Scott King, picked up her husband's mantle after his death, and became a civil activist. One issue that caused strain in the family was the gay rights issue. Some of King's children believe he would've been opposed to it. Coretta Scott had publicly stated that her husband would've supported gay rights issues.
In 1983, Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King on the 3rd Monday in January.
In 1986, the "King Dream Chorus & Holiday Crew" released the song "King Holiday" in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the artist who performed on the song were El DeBarge, Fat Boys, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Whitney Houston, Kurtis Blow, Stacy Lattisaw, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force, Teena Marie, Menudo (with Ricky Martin), Stephanie Mills, New Edition, Run-D.M.C., James "J.T." Taylor, and Whodini.
Here is that video, check it out, and remember today is the day that a great man in American history was born.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGKW3O6EpMo&feature=related[/youtube]
Topic: Cellar Scribblings (Read 8906666 times)