Before dawn Oct. 26, 1960, police dogs roused a then-31-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. awake in a DeKalb County Jail cell. Sherriff’s deputies yelled for him to get up, handcuffed and manacled him by flashlight, and shoved him into the back of a police car. They ignored his pleas for an explanation.

It was 4 a.m. when they drove into the night on a desolate country road. He had no idea if he would live to see the sun rise. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday January 21. For many, the national holiday is not merely a day off to kick back and relax but a day to do something meaningful to honor King’s memory.