# MLK Day

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.

His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.

In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000. In 1990, the Wyoming legislature designated Martin Luther King Jr/Wyoming Equality Day as a legal holiday.

Source: TimeAndDate (abridged)

photo credit: Greg Woodhouse Photography via photopin cc

To mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech 'I have a dream', TIME has released a special edition, which you can access HERE.

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January, 18th - Lance Armstrong unveils the truth

Timothy A. Clary /AFP/Getty Images

Lance Armstrong admits doping to Oprah Winfrey. It was the first question she asked him, and he finally said yes. 'In all seven of your Tour de France victories did you ever take banned substances or blood dope?'  After denying it for years, Lance Armstrong stately plainly and without emotion that he did use drugs to help him win seven Tour de France titles during THIS interview with Oprah Winfrey. In the second part of Oprah Winfrey's interview, the disgraced cyclist wells up as he speaks about his son's denials of his doping. Armstrong also gives his thoughts on receiving the sporting equivalent of the 'death penalty' and how he still harbours hopes to return to competition one day. Source: The English Blog and The Guardian (abridged and adapted) 

January, 20th - Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony

Under the Constitution, a president’s term ends at noon on January 20th, and the new president has to be sworn in on the same day. The presidential inauguration usually takes place in public, but when Jan. 20th falls on a Sunday, presidents have shifted the public ceremony a day and opted for a swearing-in at the White House, which is what happened this year. Thus the ceremony took place in the Blue Room at the White House, and Obama took the oath of office on Michele Obama's family bible (see photo here and watch the video).

January, 21st - Barack Obama's 2nd term inauguration ceremony

January 21st, which also happens to be Martin Luther King Day, will see a more lavish public reenactment. This public swearing-in is expected to draw about 800,000 to the National Mall to watch the poetry, music and oratory outside the U.S. Capitol and will include several nods to this president’s place in history as the first African American to hold the office. Obama plans to place his hand on two Bibles, one owned by the slain civil rights leader and another used by Abraham Lincoln at his swearing-in on March 4, 1861. Source: The English Blog (abridged and adapted)

The swearing-in ceremony at the White House - Larry Downing-Pool/Getty Images

The Inauguration Ceremony at the Capitol - Getty Images

January 21st - MLK Day

Since it was first observed nationwide in 1986, the holiday commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr has served as a reminder of his legacy to the causes of civil rights, nonviolent opposition and community service. There are plenty of events to check out on the day itself and over the weekend, including live-music tributes, museum exhibits, readings and more. Celebrations will be observed throughout New York City. Source: Time Out New York (abridged)

Photograph: Elena Olivo

January, 24th 

Remembering the first Macintosh

Photo via Tim Cameresi

On January 24th, 1984 - 29 years ago - Steve Jobs demoed the first Macintosh. Open Culture originally posted THIS video back in 2009, and it seems like the right time to bring it back. It captures the first of many times that Steve Jobs thrilled audiences with the promise of what technology could deliver. The video takes you back to January 1984, when Jobs demoed the first Macintosh. A young Jobs, sporting a bow tie and a fuller head of hair, could barely hold back his smile and some tears, and the crowd simply couldn’t contain its enthusiasm, giving Jobs a five-minute standing ovation. That’s where the video ends, fading happily and suitably to black. We’ll miss you Steve. Source: Open Culture (abridged and adapted)

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__________________________________________________________________

Ana Isabel and Ana Cristina are 10th form students attending the course of Languages and Humanities. They share the dream of becoming journalists. As they readily accepted the challenge of writing on this blog with me, they are the first students publishing at The Students' Corner. They chose the topic RACISM.

_________________________________________________________________________

Racist? Who? Me?
'I'm not racist!'

This is a statement heard millions of times around the world, but the truth is that only a small percentage of people who say that, actually isn’t a racist. Skin tones, religion, culture, sexual orientation, physical disabilities, and even ideals are reasons for some people to put others aside, to exclude a person ... To consider that there are human beings that are superior to others... This is racism and it is this that we want to fight against. 

'One day, my children will live in a nation where they are not judged by their colour but by their character' - Martin Luther King 

He, like many others, from actors to musicians, politicians and other entities, advocated the excluded, fighting for the truth and yearning for equality among brothers. A question is imposed: Is our society so poor? Is it poor in the sense that we need people, well-known individuals, for us to discuss what we want in a society for the future? What do I want for my future? I want the same as Martin Luther King, a secure and affordable future for me and my future family. I want my children, if I ever have them, to be able to go to school without fear of being assaulted or excluded, simply because their skin tone is different, or they require special monitoring, or even if they have a disability, either psychological or physical... I want them to have a promising future. Is it so hard to have something so simple? 

'Education and teaching are the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.' - Nelson Mandela 

On this sentence we can see that the will to change the world doesn’t have to be a dream, if we use the weapons that Mandela mentions. From my point of view, Nelson Mandela is an example to follow because of his path through life. An example of how race or skin colour does not interfere with success, or performing their duties, or simply to help others. I believe, racism is synonymous of a weak and disgusting mentality, because no one chooses to be born where or under specific conditions. So, people who think they are superior should stop for a second and put themselves in the place of someone born in Africa, or in a gipsy community scattered throughout the world. 

'How do they do this?' 

'Why spend your money on this kind of action?' 

This is the thought that many people share, sometimes even criticizing, saying that they only do it for fame. It’s their opinions, but the truth is without them, without their struggles against this horrible 'disease', racism would be much more pronounced today. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are very well known for their struggle for an equal society. Many people share this dream, even though it is very difficult to make our voices be heard in this world.

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"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Image credits: www.evian.com

You can read the full text of this widely known speech and watch a video about Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at ABC News.

Martin Luther King, Jr, Nobel Peace Prize 1964 winner, would have rejoyced at Obama's election in 2008. Barack Obama, the 44th current President of the United States, is the first African American to hold the office. 

Even though 'We were not born with hatred or intolerance!', as someone said, M.L. King's plea hasn't been fully accomplished yet, nonetheless significant changes along the way!

pic via Google Images

Nelson Mandela, a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, is an example of those changes. He was the first black President ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election in that country. Before being elected President, Mandela was a militant anti-apartheid activist, and the leader and co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe.In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment for 27 years. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led to the establishment of democracy in 1994. As President, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa. 

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name. Born on July 18 1918, Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades. He will turn 94 next week!... He is the living proof that one can dream with a better world and achieve it!...

Source: Wikipedia (abridged and adapted)

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