Racism in 2010 is not overt. It can’t be. Not all the time anyway. In order for it to survive, it has to thrive in the same places as intelligence, “free thought,” and open-mindedness. Racism in 2010 exists more in the form of “comedy” than anything else. It’s the little inappropriate things we do to be “controversial” but really they just express outwardly, our true innermost feelings. Like that song from Avenue Q. We’re all a little bit racist, and it’s no longer just a black v. white issue.
For instance, I have a friend from school who told me today that he was celebrating MLK day by buying and drinking two 40s. I laughed initially but thinking about it now, that’s a very disrespectful homage to one of America’s greatest activists. Or another good example is the novelty tee worn by the guy from my school in this picture. I took this myself at the beginning of the year, and he proudly posed because he thought the shirt was “awesome.”
I have been immersed in both black and white American culture for most of my education and I’m a constant and active observer of the cultures. I’ve picked up that there seems to be somewhat of an aversion or apathy towards celebrating Martin Luther King, amongst both groups. I think part of it has to do with the fact that we’re supposed to be “color-blind” nowadays and celebrating the life of Dr. King brings to the forefront of our minds what he died fighting against, which is equality for all men. And the fact that this ideal is not the reality we live in makes most people uncomfortable, both the descendants of slaves and the descendants of slavers.
Schools hold numerous activities and opportunities for education and knowledge across the country on Martin Luther King Day, and for the most part, if they aren’t mandatory, they are ill attended. At least that’s how I’ve seen it. Why do you have to get extra credit to go hear a speaker and learn more about your country’s history? You say that sounds boring? You’re in college. Everything that you do does not have to be fun, or for your major.
But maybe our generation has grown beyond educational MLK celebrations, I mean we did grow up with them. Reagan signed the bill to make MLK Day a national holiday in 1986, the year before I was born. So we grew up celebrating MLK day in school and being read the transcripts of the “I Have a Dream” speech. We saw videos of the March on Washington and read books about what civil rights means. We had Dr. King coloring books.
Maybe now that we’re older and have had Dr. Kings’ work so thoroughly ingrained in us, we’re over it. Maybe the un-comfortability is not with the issue of inequality; maybe it’s with having to once again go through the great life of Dr. King, only to have the ending be the same. He dies. And death makes us uncomfortable. So in order to ease our own discomfort, we laugh it off, right? We make it a party, and turn the power hatred once had into something resembling camaraderie. I get it though. For people’s birthdays, you throw a birthday party. I get it. I guess, at least, you’re celebrating.
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“But maybe our generation has grown beyond educational MLK celebrations, I mean we did grow up with them…Maybe now that we’re older and have had Dr. Kings’ work so thoroughly ingrained in us, we’re over it.”
I agree, since kindergarten there has always been some sort of MLK theme, and not just for Black History Month where I went to school. I'm not sure how other schools work, but if we weren't learning about Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Civil Rights, or something along those lines we were usually prepping for standardized testing. I think people are less excited about hearing about the movement MLK Jr. sparked because we've heard the story hundreds of times. If there was a way to liven up the education and make some sort of changes maybe our attitudes would change. Instead of just attending a speech because we're getting a few extra points for our grade we may be more serious about the message.
I think the very best reason to celebrate Martin Luther King Day is that it commemorates the triumph of peace over violence. MKL is right up there with Nelson Mandela, Ghandi and Christ (who I think is a fictional figure). I mean, the notion that positive social change can happen — does happen — without violence is perhaps one of the most powerful ideas in all the history of mankind. And for what it's worth, I think MLK would look at all the gangsta rappers out there and just breakdown in tears. There is no greater disrespect of thinkers such as MLK than the promotion of violence and misogyny.
Well said both Jeff and Kristen (although I disagree re: Christ, that's another post). I think the main point I am trying to make is that of all the positive ways to celebrate MLK Day, getting trashed isn't one of them. But it seems the most popular and it is disturbing to say the least.
Really great article. I have never observed a reluctance to celebrate MLK Jr. Day, but it makes sense that if one exists, it has to do with the dichotomy of us believing that racism is dead and the reality that is most certainly is not.
We're all racist. And we're all slaves, to debt. The bank and the corporation are our masters now. What's the next great generation going to to about that?
Woah. As a Jew I also find that t-shirt really offensive. Way to call that out.
As for people being “over” the holiday, I think that’s because we’re fed this bland version of the story.
Rosa Parks was not some random Black woman standing up for herself – she was an active secretary of the Montgomery NAACP! And MLK did much more than give the I Have a Dream Speech.
The way we teach history is appalling, and it helps feed our greatest ignorances (hence we have people like glenn beck co-opting MLK when MLK would have never been behind beck). We should demand so much more.
Thanks for the post.
-Sara
Hey Sara,
Thanks for the affirmation. I agree, historical education in the U.S. leaves much to be desired, but I think a large part of the blame also lies with our own apathy in seeking the truth about these things. The things these people are known for seem to greatly over shadow who they actually were, but American have always been in love with mythology. Suffice it to say that those who care to learn more, will likely do so. We can only hope that they then take that knowledge and share it with those who aren’t as proactive.
Evan
As a African American living in the south, I’ve seen a lot and heard a lot. People of all race act like they are something more than what they are. We are what we create. We all are slaves and afraid to tell the truth to others and our selves. I see myself and to you I may be of no importance but I must mean something if I’m a bitch or a nigga or a porch monkey. Yet what we as people fail to realize is that when you disrespect me, you disrespect yourself. Why? Because we’re all created in the image of God. Many people don’t believe in the lord but with the way our world is dying the majority of us choose to ignorant because we like to think our lives can be lived in bliss and it’s not. Think about it.