Even though it’s a holiday, many Americans don’t hit the snooze button on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. Instead of going to work, some will volunteer at a food pantry. Others might help clean up a park. 

This year, the day falls on January 20. (That’s the same day that President-elect Donald Trump takes office.)

You’ve probably heard about Martin Luther King, Jr. His “I Have a Dream” speech is famous. 

We don’t just celebrate a man who gave a great speech. We also remember the values he stood for. 

Even after slavery ended in the United States, many black people weren’t treated justly simply because of their skin color. In many states, they had to eat at separate restaurants, sleep in separate hotels, and even borrow books from separate libraries. In the 1960s, many people pushed for change. They believed that all people are created equal. Their efforts came to be called the Civil Rights Movement. But the movement needed a leader. 

The man who rose to that leadership was Baptist pastor Martin Luther King, Jr. He became the face of the movement. He suffered for the cause he believed in. He was put in jail 29 times. In 1968, a man shot and killed 39-year-old Dr. King in Memphis, Tennessee. 

But his vision helped to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This important law ended unjust separation of white and black people. It outlawed discrimination  against people based on their skin color. The Bible calls that kind of discrimination “partiality.” That means showing favoritism to some and withholding it from others.

In 1983, about 20 years after Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, President Ronald Reagan passed a law making Martin Luther King, Jr., Day a national holiday in January.

It would be 17 more years until all 50 states observed it. 

The day of remembrance is the only federal holiday where citizens are encouraged to take a “day on, not a day off.” In 1994, President Bill Clinton made it a National Day of Service.

The weekend before, most cities celebrate. They hold festivals and concerts. On Monday, thousands of volunteers do service projects. Some pick up trash. Others donate blood. 

Christians can use MLK Day to reflect on God’s mercy. The Lord created all human beings in His image. That gives each of us equal dignity. Dr. King reminds us of that.