Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader's life and legacy. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Since 2016 our nation has experienced both the inception and anniversary of many events that have shaped and changed our democracy 400 years since the beginning of Slavery.
- Voting Rights Act (55 yrs)
- Civil Rights Act (55 yrs)
- Roe vs. Wade (47 yrs)
- Brown vs. Board of Education (65 yrs)
- 19th Amendment (100 yrs)
- 13th Amendment (155 yrs)
As a 27-year-old wife and mother, I didn't imagine the importance or impact that MLK Day would hold in my life. Like many of my contemporaries, I signed the petitions and attended the events rallying my support for the President to sign the day into becoming a federal holiday.
Initially, thoughts of another Federal Holiday that would provide a day off with pay quickly evolved into a life steeped in service.
The significance of these dates, including January 20th, are all intertwined with the rights bestowed upon all (or most) here in this country.
As I choose how I will serve this Monday, I also think about the legacy of my service and how history will reflect our collective service as a human race.
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"Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."...Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ptosha Davis,
Partnerships and Outreach Ambassador
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