Brian Thomas on Martin Luther King Jr Day

"He is the only United States citizen with a holiday in his honor on his birthday." Why?

Why does he merit a holiday in his name? Does King rank higher than Washington or Lincoln who's birthdays were combined for 'President's Day?' We'll be celebrating African American History Month two weeks from today. Why is his legacy revered on a day all by itself, and kids are given the day off from school for a government holiday?