A Basque in Boise

Martin Luther King Day

The United States officially observes Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday for the 13 time today. Although Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It wasn’t officially observed in all 50 states until 2000.

Until around this time last year, I had never really experienced derogatory comments for being an immigrant. It was nothing major, just a small incident that didn’t leave a huge mark but made me think about racism a little bit more in depth. I tried putting myself in the shoes the people that had to endured it for so long and remembered there are still those who endure it today.

I hadn’t listened to Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech until last year, either. I sat with my son and my daughter, and the three of us fell under his spell. Even though my kids didn’t fully understand his words, you could tell they got the message anyway. His speech is beautiful, touching and, so many years later, still as powerful. I will sit with them again this year and watch it one more time. If you haven’t yet, you should. It only takes five minutes.

“I Have A Dream” speech with Spanish subtitles (5 minutes)

 
“I Have A Dream” entire speech, August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. (17 minutes)
 

 

Additional information

Thanks for passing by: ↓

maria jesus Mark Bieter

6 thoughts on “Martin Luther King Day

  1. Victoria de Aranzeta

    Hi-is there a way I could contact you to perhaps post something to your site or is there a way you know to get in contact with eitb? I am a Basque archaeology/anthropology student living in the Pacific Northwest and for my thesis I am working on studies of Basques in the Northwest, commonly mistaken as Spainards-I’m really just looking for families who came to Western America from the Basque country who could tell me their family stories for my thesis- Thanks-

  2. Victoria de Aranzeta

    Hi-is there a way I could contact you to perhaps post something to your site or is there a way you know to get in contact with eitb? I am a Basque archaeology/anthropology student living in the Pacific Northwest and for my thesis I am working on studies of Basques in the Northwest, commonly mistaken as Spainards-I’m really just looking for families who came to Western America from the Basque country who could tell me their family stories for my thesis- Thanks-

  3. Ryan

    Another civil rights leader this country is well aware of but is usually ignored in schools is Malcolm X. Try giving his speeches a listen and read his Bio by Alex Haley. You will not be able to put it down.

  4. Henar Chico

    Hi Ryan, thanks so much. I will take a look at the videos and check out the bio from the Boise library. Thanks for stopping by.

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