A Mississippi county announces their observance of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King and Confederate General Robert E. Lee

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The holidays of both men will be celebrated together on the same day

One would think celebrating the birthday of a man who was a racist and fought to maintain slavery within the United States is crazy, but to also celebrate his birthday on the same day as the most prominent Civil Rights activist the United States have ever seen?

Martin Luther King, Jr

King was born on January 15, 1929, and under the Ronald Reagan administration, a day of celebration for King was started in 1983, and would occur annually on the third Monday in January.

Robert E. Lee

Leader of the Confederate Army, General Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807. Lee’s state of birth, Virigina, starting celebrating his birthday during the year of 1889. Over the years other states took part in the annual celebration of Lee’s birthday: Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Today, only Mississippi and Alabama celebrate Lee’s birthday on January 19th.

Madison County, Mississippi

Located in central Mississippi, Madison County, was founded in 1828 and named afer the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. In 1860, Madison County’s resident population was 5,260 and their enslaved populaltion was 18,118; 77% of Madison County’s popuation were slaves.

Today, 57.2% of Madison’s population is White and 38.3 are Black.

Anouncement of the King Holiday and Robert E. Lee’s birthday celebrated together

This year in 2025 the third Monday in January that celebrates the King holiday also falls on Robert E. Lee’s birthday, January 20th. Is the state wrong for celebrating these two holidays together? Madison County placed a notice on their Facebook page that reads:

“Madison County Chancery Courthouse and County offices will be clsed Monday, January 20, 2025 in observance holiday of Robert E. Lee and Martin Luther King, Jr. Business hours will resume Tuesday, January 21, 2025 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.”