Monday, the nation will celebrate the birth and commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., hopefully in ways that will tell his story as a new generation learns about the ideals of the dream.
It should be a day in which the nation continually examines the King dream and measures our progress toward achieving its goal.
A trend began a few years ago to avoid a serious discussion about the meaning of Dr. King’s dream by substituting commemorative efforts with a “Day of Service.”
On the surface, it appears very altruistic. Who can argue with spending a few hours on King Day, helping others, or being involved in a community service project?”
After all, isn’t that what Dr. King’s dream was about, serving others?
Helping others and promoting a community service spirit was undoubtedly one of Dr. King’s life themes, but it wasn’t his primary theme.
On the one day that America sets aside to reflect on its moral shortcomings and search for ways to improve, it’s not a good idea to focus only on a “Day of Service” at the expense of exploring the ideals themselves.
A “Day of Service” cannot substitute for our quest for freedom, justice, and man’s inhumanity to man.
Across the nation, an increasing number of groups, even in the Black community, are falling prey to what some have called the hijacking of the King dream by corporate interests. This hijacking intentionally points everyone away from serious discussions about racism, criminal justice, and economic parity for all. Instead, corporate America promotes the King Day as a day to give blood, pick up trash, help with Habitat, or show kindness to a neighbor.
Instead of serious discussions, it has become a day for employees of corporations and other groups to stage photo-op events where they can appear deeply connected and concerned about the underserved in the local community.
Some employers will give employees the King Day off only if they participate in “Day of Service” for corporate public relations purposes. The rest of the year, the corporation doesn’t share the same benevolent spirit.
What’s missing from the “Day of Service” campaign is the much-needed discussion of the issues that Dr. King championed and the vigorous pursuit of solutions and understanding.
What were some of Dr. King’s primary concerns?
Racism in America was the primary target of Dr. King’s ministry. He attacked institutionalized racism and the subtle nuances of racism in our economic, political, and social standards. On King Day, wouldn’t it help if corporate America as well as national and local governments looked at themselves and charted a way to improve?
Economic disparity was another of Dr. King’s issues. How can we close the gap between the rich and poor and the gap between the haves and have-nots? It was the moving force behind Dr. King’s “Poor People’s Campaign” and other thrusts for job opportunities and fair wages.
The inequities of the Justice System in America and how it impacts minorities and the poor was another of his themes. How is it that justice is blind when it comes to whites and looks hard at the offenses of Blacks and the poor all over the nation?
Dr. King spoke against corporate greed that promotes greed and wars around the world.
These and other issues that Dr. King promoted are hard truths that the country keeps avoiding because it would require an element of self-evaluation by both Blacks and whites that is easier to sidestep than to address.
There is nothing wrong with serving others on King Day as long as the day also includes ample time for serious exploration of the King ideals before plunging into service activities.
“A day of service” without forums, dialogues, speakers, and other activities to focus on the ideals of the dream, is a diversion.
We should not drink the cool-aid.
