HIS DREAM LIVES ON...

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

If Dr. King was still alive he would've celebrated his 82nd birthday this past weekend. However, his life was taken almost 43 years ago all because he chose to stand up for what he believed was right. He took a stand to end racism because he knew it was wrong. Not saying that everything is perfect now, but our lives are definitely that much better because of all the things he did. A friend (Jessica Justice) and I were having a conversation yesterday. We asked the question...Out of all the young men we know how many of them would stand up for what they believe in and take a stand like Dr. King did? Our answer...ZERO! Dr. King was a very courageous man that had a dream and fought for it. In remembrance of Dr. King I've put together a little list of little known facts. Enjoy!

1. In 1934, five years after his birth, his family discovered Martin's name had been recorded wrong on his birth certificate. The certificate said Michael King, so his name had to be legally changed to Martin Luther King Jr.

2. He skipped both 9th and 12th grade in school and entered Morehouse College at age 15.

3. Between 1957 and his death in 1968 he gave over 2500 speeches. (WOW that's dedication!)

4.Currently there are over 730 cities that have streets named after Dr. King!

5. In 1963 King was Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" 

6. Over six million people signed a petition given to Congress in an attempt to get the holiday recognized. This petition was submitted to Congress in 1970. This was and remains the largest petition in US history.

7.  At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. Observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, it was called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. However, it wasn't recognized as a holiday in all 50 states until 2000. 

8. MLK Day was the first federal Holiday to recognize a U.S. citizen other than presidents. That was one of the main reasons it was such a debate about it. 

9. Hiroshima, Japan and Toronto, Canada also celebrate MLK Day.

10. The Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated, is now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.