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Today honors the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader whose moral leadership and soaring oratory led the United States toward the legal abolition of segregation and racial discrimination.

He was assassinated in April 1968, but his words live on. Perhaps best known is his “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered in 1963 as he led the massive March on Washington. A year later, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was founded as a holiday promoted by labor unions in contract negotiations. After King’s death, Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday, highlighting King’s activism on behalf of trade unionists. The King Center turned to support from the corporate community and the general public. The success of this strategy was cemented when musician Stevie Wonder released the single “Happy Birthday” to popularize the campaign in 1980 and hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. Six million signatures were collected for a petition to Congress to pass the law, termed by a 2006 The Nation article as “…the largest petition in favor of an issue in United States History.”

At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986.

In May 1990, the holiday was expanded further when President George H. W. Bush signed an extension making the week long celebration into a month-long celebration.

Here is a video showing the “I Have a Dream” Speach:

If you can read this, you’re too close. Too close to the deadline for holiday shopping, that is. But, of course, it’s never too late, if you’re creative. Here are a few ideas if you’ve just checked the calendar and realized that St. Nick has come and gone, and the stockings you’re expected to fill are still empty:

Video Stores - Christmas has become a popular day to go to the movies, and the big video chains want a piece of that. If there’s a Blockbuster or Hollywood Video store near you, chances are it’s open at some point today. You should be able to find at least a handful of good DVDs and video games available before you sit down for Christmas dinner.

Drug Stores - Many branches of chains such as CVS, Walgreen’s and Rite-Aid will be open on Christmas day, and offer a range of gift cards, perfumes and cosmetics, along with greeting cards, wrapping paper and other accessories. These stores also frequently stock inexpensive toys, low-end electronics and other items suitable in a pinch.

Convenience Stores - Yes, you may just find yourself thanking heaven for 7-Eleven, if it’s along the route you take to your holiday gathering. Of course, you’ll also have to hope the neighborhood store hasn’t been cleared out of all of its higher-end merchandise; a Big Gulp and chili dog combo just won’t cut it as a gift.

Supermarkets - Some chains will have at least a few branches open on Christmas morning, giving you a chance to throw together a last-minute food basket or bouquet of flowers, pick up a small appliance or grab one of the ubiquitous gift cards (of course, if all the premium cards are taken, it’s up to you whether or not you want to show up at mom’s with a Winn-Dixie gift card).

Ethnic Businesses - Not everyone celebrates Christmas, though many businesses run by those who skip the holiday will still be closed. However, from New York’s Chinatown to San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum, you’ll find some businesses open on the 25th.

Of course, it’s the thought that counts. Which means that if you’re just thinking about your gift-shopping needs on Christmas morning, you shouldn’t expect a lot of options.