How Stevie Wonder Made MLK Day Possible

A Staunch Supporter of Making MLK Day a National Holiday

A civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Despite this, his legacy continued to live on, and in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill declaring Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday.

Stevie Wonder’s Persistence Paid Off

A Grammy-winning singer, Stevie Wonder, was a strong supporter of making MLK Day a national holiday. In 2023, Wonder revealed on X how he had to be persistent in his efforts to make this happen.

“Forty years ago, without an electronic world – no email, no internet – we found a way to beat the odds and we did what Dr. King would have wanted,” he explained. “We found the humanity in people who have passionately disagreed with us. We reached across differences and in August 1983, the bill to make Dr. King’s birthday a national holiday passed the Democratic House of Representatives 338 to 90. In October of 1983, that bill passed the Republican Senate 78 to 22, and President Ronald Reagan signed that bill into law in November of 1983.”

A Musical Tribute

In 1981, Wonder released the popular song “Happy Birthday,” from his album “Hotter Than July,” to honor King and to push for his birthday to be a national holiday. He even held rallies at the Capitol to further his cause. The “Isn’t She Lovely?” singer stopped touring for three years to make the national holiday and the Kingdom Day parade possible.

A Sacrifice for the Cause

“You should know that Stevie Wonder really sacrificed for the Kingdom Day event and federal holiday, as well as this parade, to happen,” explained KTLA 5’s Gayle Anderson. “So, the next time you see or hear Stevie Wonder, thank him for his service.”

A Legacy Lives On

Wonder was the first Grand Marshal of the Kingdom Day Parade’s first annual parade, and the event’s organizers continue to honor his work in making this all possible.

Conclusion

Stevie Wonder’s determination and persistence paid off in making MLK Day a national holiday. His sacrifice and dedication to the cause of making King’s birthday a federal holiday will always be remembered.

FAQs

* What was the name of the song Stevie Wonder released in 1981 to honor King and push for his birthday to be a national holiday?
+ “Happy Birthday”
* How many years did Stevie Wonder stop touring to make the national holiday and the Kingdom Day parade possible?
+ 3 years
* Who was the first Grand Marshal of the Kingdom Day Parade?
+ Stevie Wonder