It is Reverend Dr Martin Luther King's birthday. A historic day. Today, America is celebrating the birthday of this great African-American spiritual and civil rights leader.

Along with Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik Shabbazz, he fought for civil rights and sparked a major "revolution" of the 1960s.

Both were assasinated before their 40th birthday. Both taught dangerously and lived a life of profound commitment to social justice. Both were opposed to totalitarianism, militarism, materialism and capitalism.

America honoured them and wants her children to embody their spirit of freedom. King's birthday is now a public holiday in America.

It's a historic day for me too. On this day last year, I chose to start writing for the Malaysian public. Thank you, malaysiakini.