The federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, but it wasn’t always recognized as a state holiday. In fact, it wasn’t until 2000 that all 50 states recognized the holiday.
Bertha Mullins, a Reno native who served as chairman of the Northern Nevada Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, has insight into the story of the political wrangling involved in creating the state holiday in Nevada.
In recognition of Black History Month, she will share that story as part of the Nevada State Museum’s Frances Humphrey Lecture Series. Her presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, at the Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St.
Mullins has served on more than 30 boards, including Sierra Nevada Girl Scouts, Truckee Meadows Habitat for Humanity, Reno/Sparks NAACP Executive Board and the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society.
Admission is $8 for adults; free for museum members and children 17 and younger.
For information about the event, contact Bob Nylen at Rnylen@nevadaculture.org or 775-687-4810, ext. 245. To read about the speaker, go to http://ourstoryinc.com/.