martin luther king

Giving a day of commemoration to one of the world's most instrumental civil rights leaders whose peaceful words and deeds contributed to a whole new understanding of equality and brotherhood seems like a no-brainer. Martin Luther King Day's history, however, was fraught with controversy and took years just to get on the federal government's official calendars.

Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy wasn’t a big fan of Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, during a series of old interviews that were released to the public last week, Kennedy is heard saying “I just can’t see a picture of Martin Luther King without thinking, you know, that man’s terrible.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and assassinated on April 4, 1968. In his 39 years, King was a PhD scholar, minister, and civil rights leader. He is most fondly remembered for his iconic “I Have a Dream Speech,” delivered on August 28, 1963 from the steps of Washington D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial to the rapt audience before him.