Plea for E&H to Commemorate MLK Day

With the celebration of MLK day we recognize changes made for a more diverse society, Emory & Henry College lacks the knowledge of how important this holiday really is.

                “I think MLK Day is a day where we can celebrate someone who helped Americans come along and take great strides historically, I think it is a celebration that we should all take and observe,” Sophomore Gregory Benton said. Since MLK Day is a federal holiday, colleges have the opportunity to cancel classes. Private colleges are more likely to overlook the holiday as opposed to universities and continue with regular class schedules. Being an African American student at a predominately white college I see MLK day as a day that is just as important as any other holiday.

Quierra Pettie, a student at the University of Virginia stated that they celebrated MLK day by closing all classes down and having forums and discussions about historical events during Dr. King’s time and how Dr King affected the world today. Christian Rodgers, a student at Radford University also stated they do the same as UVA with the exception of having a lot of in depth discussions. These are some of the top colleges that are dismissing classes to let their students acknowledge and embrace a holiday.

There was not any type of celebration for MLK day on Emory & Henry’s campus.  “I was surprised when I heard that we didn’t celebrate the holiday, every school that I have attended before has celebrated MLK day. I think it is the respectful and classy thing to do,” says Benton.  I am not questioning the operations of the college but I feel as though historical lectures, marches or videos should have been offered to the students. With these lectures and activities students are able to embrace their difference amongst their peers and the long hard fight that had to occur in order for us to get to this point. How is it that we can dismiss classes for Winter Forums which are discussions about a certain topic, but can’t dismiss class for a federal holiday that has affected every person in some sort of way?

Why is it that we do not recognize Martin Luther King as a person that gave his life for equality? Martin Luther King was a leader in a movement to end racism and give people of all races equal opportunity. King was awarded historical awards like the Nobel Peace Prize, the American Liberties Medallion, and Marcus Garvey Prize for Human Rights along with the honorary Presidential Medal of Freedom. Along with his awards he was also voted sixth in the Person of the Century Poll  by Time magazine. Without Dr. King, there would not be as many opportunities for people of all races in today’s society. If this holiday was not important, there would not have been a bill passed for it to be nationally celebrated amongst Americans.

For my peers who read this, I ask that you do not take offense to what is being said, but understand where I am coming from as a African American. It is very important that campuses across America take the time to remember the work of Dr. King by celebrating the day named after him.  It will help students develop a deeper appreciation of history, diversity and even for the future.

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