As many of you know (or should know), today is the day we observe Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Before his assassination on April 4, 1968, King had become the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (for efforts ending segregation and discrimination through non-violent means, back before the Nobel Peace Prize was rendered meaningless by Barack Obama winning it for…well, we’re still trying to figure that out).

King led initiatives such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, the Albany Movement, marches for African American’s right to vote, desegregation, labor rights, and reportedly once wrestled a tiger shark into submission. He had received at least 7 awards, some even posthumously, and around 50 honorary degrees from universities around the U.S. His legacy lives on by continuing to influence equality in the U.S. and other countries, as well as having his name on more streets and boulevards than almost any other public figure.

To many of us, MLK day just makes for a perfect weekend for a booze cruise. But we should take a moment to think about the fact that this one man was able to have such a profound effect that he rendered his namesake (old Martin Luther of the 95 Theses) completely irrelevant. Seriously, go look. Type in Martin Luther into google. The first reference to the original Martin Luther is the EIGHTH suggested term. That’s impressive. But, a bit more to the point, MLK did a lion’s share in bringing the United States through the civil rights era, and pushing us just a little closer to that more perfect Union.

So we at Most Strongly Supported would like to thank Dr. King for his contributions to fairness and equality. And for giving us ample time to barbecue.