People across the country gathered together Jan. 19 to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in song and speech. People of all races and faiths congregated at parades and rallies held in memory of the slain civil rights leader, who gave his life to the cause April 4, 1968.
But some area companies weren’t celebrating King’s life, nor were they commemorating his tragic assassination. Rather, according to a Jan. 19 article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, some Twin Cities-area companies chose not to commemorate King and his life’s work, but rather decided to celebrate “Diversity Day,” a watered-down version of the King holiday that simply misses the point.
Of course, celebrating diversity was a crucial part of King’s message. But the civil rights leader embodied a lot more than simply the celebration of diversity.
“Perhaps it is some backward attempt at political correctness, although I have a hard time guessing who might be offended by naming a holiday after a great leader.” |
King was an amazing orator; his words and emphasis on non-violent resistance inspired a generation and would inspire generations to come. He knew his tireless struggle was dangerous not only to himself, but to his family, friends and supporters across the country. Civil rights marchers nationwide faced beatings, fire hoses and police dogs and King was the one often leading protesters directly into the danger. “Diversity Day” reflects none of this.
Try as I might, I cannot imagine what would motivate a business to abandon the celebration of the King holiday in favor of a more watered-down remembrance of the civil rights struggle. Perhaps it is some backward attempt at political correctness, although I have a hard time guessing who might be offended by naming a holiday after a great leader. “Re-naming” the holiday, as these businesses have done, would be like Christians re-naming Easter “celebration of life day.” Is Easter a celebration of life? Certainly. But it is also a lot more than that, just as King’s life and death were about much more than diversity.
The Star Tribune article also noted several area businesses maintained normal hours despite the holiday, which of course is nothing new. It bothers me, however, that these businesses seem unable, even for a single day, to push aside profits and close their doors.
A TCF Bank spokesperson is quoted in the article as saying bank branches would remain open “in the name of customer service.” But what customer can’t get by for one day if the bank is closed? The more businesses remain open on King day, the more it starts to seem like any other day. This fails to honor King’s memory in the way it should be honored.
One potentially positive trend in the celebration of the King holiday is the practice of schools remaining open and devoting the day to assemblies or other types of education about the leader. The article noted several Minnesota school districts take this approach to the holiday. The idea, of course, is that kids will probably learn more in a civil rights-themed assembly than if they simply sit home in front of the television or otherwise enjoy the three-day weekend. It seems in education, as in business, it has become too easy to simply regard the holiday as “another day off.”
King inspired a generation and challenged the status quo of racism in this country, ultimately giving his life for the dream he spoke of in that famous speech. And although race relations have come a long way since the 1960s, we as a nation still struggle to put superficial differences behind us and work toward peaceful coexistence.
For example, the events of Sept. 11 triggered a backlash against Arab-Americans (or anyone who even looks Arab) in this country. In South Carolina, a confederate flag flies on the grounds of the Capitol, silently celebrating a history of slavery and oppression.
We’ve come a long way, but clearly we’ve got a long way to go. Honoring a great man and a powerful leader the way he ought to be honored is just one way to remind ourselves of that.