![5 Things You Didn’t Know About Martin Luther King Jr. Day](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/01/martin-luther-king-memorial1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Martin Luther King Jr. Day
![martin luther king jr. memorial washington d.c.](http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/01/martin-luther-king-memorial.jpg)
Giving a day of commemoration to one of the world's most instrumental civil rights leaders whose peaceful words and deeds contributed to a whole new understanding of equality and brotherhood seems like a no-brainer. Martin Luther King Day's history, however, was fraught with controversy and took years just to get on the federal government's official calendars.
And even after the federal government officially recognized MLK Day as a holiday, it took years to get the states to do the same. Eventually both sides recognized Martin Luther King Day as an official holiday and even erected a memorial in Washington, D.C. in his honor, but the history of the holiday makes for just as much of an interesting read as the man whose legacy the day aims to honor. Here is just a sample of MLK Day's storied fall and rise to the nation's calendars.
![john conyers congressmen representative michigan](http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/01/john-conyers.jpg)
The first MLK Day bill was submitted four days after King's death
![stevie wonder](http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/01/stevie-wonder.jpg)
Stevie Wonder was instrumental in getting MLK Day recognized
![senator jesse helms north carolina](http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/01/jesse-helms.jpg)
Jesse Helms and John McCain vehemently opposed MLK Day
![super bowl XXVII helmet nfl buffalo bills dallas cowboys](http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/01/Super-Bowl-XXVII.jpg)
Arizona lost Super Bowl XXVII for refusing to recognize MLK Day
![flag of south carolina](http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/01/Anonymous_Flag_of_South_Carolina.jpg)
South Carolina was the last state in the Union to recognize MLK Day
More From AM 1240 WJON
![DNR Seeks Higher Fishing, Hunting License Fees](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/08/jerryhunter.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bodies of 2 Snowmobilers Recovered from Lake](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2010/12/snowmobile.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![SCSU Basketball Completes Sweep at MN-Duluth](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/01/Aaryn-Booker.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![SCSU Hockey Wins 5-4 At Colorado College In Overtime](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/10/SCSU-Hockey-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Burglars Hit Building Twice This Past Week](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/01/burglary1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St.Cloud Man Charged With DWI](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/01/cocktails-300x2081.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota Snowmobile Safety Week](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/10/arctic_cat_snomobile_630x420.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Kanabec County Chief Deputy Resigns](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/02/breathalyzer.jpg?w=980&q=75)