Though this coming Monday is a regular workday for most and it may not feel like an extended weekend, in a sense, it is.

If you have kids, they are probably going to need looking after. Monday, January 16^th, 2012 is a federal holiday so all government office (public) schools are closed. Most Libraries will be closed too. 

According to the Examiner, all federal offices and most city offices will be closed. Also, post offices and banks are closed. Therefore, one should note that the first business day of next week will be Tuesday January 17^th, 2012.

We began first celebrating this holiday, back in 1986 on January 20^th.  It wasn’t until January 17^th, 2000 that all 50 states officially observed this holiday. Before this day, Arizona and New Hampshire did not.

This marks the approximate birthdate of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke in a full church on a day in spring in Memphis, Tennessee. On April 3^rd, 1968, he delivered his final speech. To view a video, click here. The day after he spoke, he was assassinated. NPR’s morning edition features this man who fought against social injustice here.

In a sense, perhaps his dream has come true. People of color are now allowed in coffee shops and movie theaters because of him. This may not be something we think about on a regular basis. Yet, we can thank his vision and tireless desire to make the world as good as he, himself could imagine it. Perhaps we do exactly that by observing this holiday.