Martin Luther King Jr. day which occurs on January 20th of every year is a day set aside to honor Martin Luther King Jr who was an influential American civil rights leader who campaigned consistently for racial equality and the end of racial segregation in the United States.

This day in remembrance of him was first signed into law in 1983 by a Republican president Ronald Reagan but it was first observed three years after in 1986. Still, some of the states refused to observe the holiday but in the year 2000, all fifty states of the United States observed the holiday.

The reason behind their refusal was because Martin Luther King was not liked by all. Some Republicans, Democrats, and corporate heads initially hated the idea when it was first introduced in the 1970s by Democrat representative; John Conyers because they taught he often disturbed the public peace a little. Although some agreed with his moral views and opinions.

The congresspeople including Reagan who was by then a presidential hopeful felt that the establishment of a public holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to the country’s longstanding tradition and also they did not want to anger the corporate heads of America. Because granting a federal holiday would not affect the paying of workers salary for that day.

According to William P. Jones who is the author of The Black Tribe of Ulysses:

"The holiday bill introduced by Conyer's would have died at the committee deliberations but it stayed alive because the lawmakers knew that labor unions across the country wanted a Holiday declared for King Jr."

In fact, the dogged and stubborn labor union leaders whose positions were stronger told their workers to take a day off on the day of Martin Luther Jr. assassination( April 4th) until the lawmakers had no alternative but to listen to their demand.

Still, the effort exerted by the labor unions and Conyers was only enough to keep the idea in the public hearing. In 1979, the idea was also supported by Edward Brooke(the first African American elected to the United States Senate) whose support gave more weight to the idea.

Shortly after Reagan won the presidential election in 1980, popular entertainers such as Stevie Wonders and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change which was established after his death to promote his legacy convinced Corporate America and together they further pressed the idea of a holiday for King.

Their efforts paid off, and soon six million signatures were gathered across America in support of King's holiday.

Finally, in 1983, the bill to mark a holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. was passed in Congress but there was still little drama as two republican senators from North Carolina vehemently opposed the bill. One of the senators even submitted a 300-page document that alleged that King Jr. was a communist and should not be given American honor. However their opposing efforts were futile, the Senate affirmed the bill which had been passed by Congress and President Reagan signed it into law.

This is the story of the controversy that surrounded Martin Luther King Jr.'s day. Today, one can honor his day by reflecting on his speeches, planting a tree as a symbol of growth, going on a giving march, and also remembering the efforts and contributions made by the people who made sure Martin Luther King Jr. had a day he will be celebrated.