Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

We celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the contributions African-Americans have made to our society. 

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day "On August 28, 1963, nearly a quarter of a million people gathered in the August heat on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to hear the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speak. People traveled to our Nation's Capital from places as far away as Atlanta and Los Angeles to witness one of the defining moments in American history. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King articulated the founding dream of America, the vision of our Founders for all Americans to live as 'an heir of the legacy of dignity and worth.' Today, we pause to honor the incredible life and accomplishments of Dr. King, who helped shape the Civil Rights Movement, gave hope to millions experiencing discrimination, and whose enduring memory inspires us to pursue a more just and equal society." - White House Proclamation on Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday 2020 Learn More Did You Know? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 92 years old last Friday. The civil rights leader, minister, and recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize was born in 1929. Today is the national holiday, honoring his birth and legacy.  Read More In February, we will celebrate National African American (Black) History Month and the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent.  The following facts are available thanks to the public's invaluable participation in U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the information shared by each respondent as we continuously count and measure America's people, places, and economy. 48.2 million The Black population, either alone or in combination with one or more races, in the United States in 2019. 87.9% The percentage of African Americans age 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2019. 124,004 The number of Black-owned employer businesses in the United States in 2017. You May Be Interested In Changes in the Nation's African-American Population Since 1964 Take a look at the infographic to see statistical differences in the African American population between 1964 and 2018. View Infographic Black Education on the Rise View the infographic to see the rising numbers of African-Americans age 25 and older from 1940-2019 who have obtained a bachelor's degree or higher. View Infographic I Have A Dream - Learning About Martin Luther King, Jr. This activity teaches students how certain aspects of the lives of African Americans have changed since civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. Check out this elementary school history activity that uses Census Bureau data from the 1960s. View Activity African-Americans' Education Levels Through The Years Explore historic information with your students and discover the education levels of African Americans before the Civil War and post-Reconstruction. Check out this middle school history activity that uses actual Census Bureau data from 1850 and 1880. View Activity Help us spread the word about Census Bureau data. Share this newsletter on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This About the Census Bureau We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. We are a scientific organization focused on data. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our information to make far-reaching decisions. Stay connected with us! Join the conversation on social media. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Subscriber Settings  |  Remove me from All Subscriptions  | Help