MLK: A day on, not a day off
In 1990, the National Football League refused to hold the Super Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. Arizona was then in its third year of rejecting Martin Luther King day, first adopted federally under Ronald Reagan in 1983. Countless other events were moved because of the policy against MLK day, and the state was the subject of considerable criticism. Finally, Arizona voters passed a referendum in 1992 recognizing the annual holiday (and the Super Bowl returned four years later). Since that time, I had assumed everyone observed MLK day as a holiday.
Last year, I was surprised to learn that Chadron State College holds classes on MLK day. To be fair, I had overlooked that fact as I developed my courses in Arizona while preparing to move my family to Chadron, having accepted a position at CSC as an assistant professor of history. I was hectically finishing the semester at Northern Arizona University, preparing for a cross-country move, and hoping against hope to secure decent housing upon arriving in Nebraska. Martin Luther King was the furthest thing from my mind.
In some ways, it is easy to be complacent about Dr. King. His vision of ending segregation in America shook that racist institution to its foundation and left it in ruin. We have not realized the full measure of Dr. King’s dream — far too much want and suffering remains in this country — but he helped take down a system of oppression that had divided America for centuries. And it fell in less than a decade; it is easy to overlook that kind of victory.
Yet racism lingers, so we must work to educate each new generation about the source of that hatred in the hopes of its eventual elimination. And because the poorest and weakest among us still strive for basic human dignity — freedom from want, hunger, and fear – King’s message can inspire this generation to work to make the world a better place for others.
When first arriving on campus last year, I instinctively thought that CSC should observe the holiday with a day off. The memory of Arizona’s refusal to observe MLK day was strong and I could see no reason to not honor the man by setting aside a day. On Monday of this week, I saw the power of persuasion inherent in holding classes, as the MLK day roundtable discussion swelled to near capacity as a result of several classes attending en masse. CSC should hold classes on MLK day, but it should be a day of observance, not a day of life as usual.
The slogan of the MLK national day of service is “make it a day on, not a day off.” At CSC it already is a day on, but we can do more. We can embrace college’s mission statement and “contribute significantly to the vitality and diversity of the region.” We can find ways to make our community a better place, not just on a cold day in January, but throughout the year. And in helping others, we will most certainly better ourselves.