Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Fayetteville

Monday, Jan. 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

For some, the national holiday honoring the prominent civil rights activist is a time to give back and serve the community, be it through removing graffiti or picking up litter in a local park.

For others, it’s an opportunity to educate themselves about King and his life's work. And for others, it’s a time to just kick back and enjoy the prolonged weekend.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

Saturday, January 19; 11:30 A.M.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will be held on Saturday, January 19 beginning at noon in downtown Fayetteville.  Line up begins at 9 a.m. at the Court House before processing down Person Street and Hay Street and ending at the Amtrak Station on Hay Street.  For more information or to get involved, contact the Fayetteville-Cumberland County MLK Committee at 910-922-0275.

Fayetteville State University Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Monday, January 21; 7:00 P.M.

The Fayetteville State Concert Band is joined by the Army Ground Forces Band for an evening of music celebrating the legacy of African American Bandsmen who have served our nation. The performance will take place at FSU's Seabrook Auditorium. More information is available by calling 910-672-1474

Prayer Breakfast & Day of Service

Monday, January 21; 7:30 A.M.

The Fayetteville Cumberland County Ministerial Council will host the 20th Annual MLK Prayer Breakfast at the Crown Expo.  This year’s Keynote Speaker will be Mrs. Kim Saunders, President and CEO of Mechanics & Farmer’s Bank. A Day of Service immediately follows the breakfast where churches, organizations, agencies and individuals will commit to 4 hours of community service. For more information, please call 910-568-4276. Cost is $18.00 per individual.

FSU Chancellor’s Distinguished Speaker Series: Bob Zellner

Tuesday, January 22; 6:00 P.M.

To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Dr. Bob Zellner, prominent Civil Rights activist and Freedom Rider, will be the guest speaker as part of Fayetteville State University’s Distinguished Speaker Series at Seabrook Auditorium. 

So, tell us—What does Martin Luther King Jr. Day mean to you? What are you doing to commemorate King’s legacy?

The Holiday's History

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, now a U.S. holiday, took 15 years to create.

Legislation was first proposed by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) four days after King was assassinated in 1968.

The bill was stalled, but Conyers, along with Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-New York), pushed for the holiday every legislative session until it was finally passed in 1983, following civil rights marches in Washington. 

Then-president Ronald Reagan signed it into law. Yet it was not until 2000 that every U.S. state celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by its name. Before then, states like Utah referred to the holiday more broadly as Human Rights Day. 

Now, the Corporation for National and Community Service has declared it an official U.S. Day of Service.

TELL US: What does MLK Day mean to you? Tell us in the comments.