Detroiters like Stevie Wonder and John Conyers were instrumental in making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday.

The U.S. began observing Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a national holiday 40 years ago. Here & Now ‘s Indira ...

Here are some of the steps that led to the creation of the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, as well as some of the ...

January 19, 2026 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day. King’s actual birthday was on January 15. April 8, 1968 – Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) introduces legislation for a federal holiday to commemorate King, just ...

Like the civil rights movement itself, the federal holiday didn't come together seamlessly. It wasn't officially adopted until 15 years after King's assassination.

MLK Day 2026 falls on January 19, honoring Martin Luther King’s legacy. Learn when did MLK Day became a federal holiday, its ...

In 1980, Wonder recorded the tribute “Happy Birthday”, specifically calling for a national holiday around King’s birthday in ...

By  TERRY TANG The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln ...

The long battle to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Millions across federal, state, and local governments, institutions ...