Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the legacy of a man whose words and actions defined a generational movement. The holiday was first observed in 1986, three years after President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.

King’s iconic 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech encapsulates the sentiment of the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a call to end the cycle of prejudice and racism and fulfill King’s vision.

“I have a dream that my four little 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,” King said.

Following King’s speech and nonviolent march outside of Selma, Alabama, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act ended segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.

In 1964, King also received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. Just four years later, King was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4 during a sanitation workers strike.

King’s work is forever preserved with this holiday, as his legacy continues to impact millions of lives across the nation.

Share your thoughts about the holiday and King’s life with the hashtag, #MartinLutherKingJrDay.