History is full of tragedy, war, and shameful events. Luckily there are victories and strong leaders to inspire us as well. Segregation was a shameful time in our country, but fortunately one major hero emerged during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year on the third Monday in January, we Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Day to honor his achievements, grace, and lasting impacts on our world. In addition, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976 as a time to honor the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout U.S. history.
Martin Luther King Jr. was influential in the passing of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. He stressed non-violence and taught Americans to use words, peaceful protest, and civil disobedience to achieve their political goals. He was a great speaker, great leader, and is a great American hero who should be celebrated.
Fortunately, Martin Luther King Jr. is not America’s only great hero. In fact, America has many heroes, but what American heroes are celebrated to the same degree? Why isn’t a big deal made about Washington, Jefferson, Laura Ingalls Wilder, or James Thorpe? Children should be learning about the heroes listed in The Garden of American Heroes.
Today in America, if children learn about these American heroes, their faulty human characteristics are commonly emphasized while their accomplishments are minimized. Unfortunately, even the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is dishonored in this way. In the context of Martin Luther King Day, the emphasis is often placed on the wrongs of the racists and not the achievements of the hero and his cause. Children are learning that the wrongs of the past still persist today. They are being taught that because some white people were racist during segregation three generations ago, all white people are racist today. Instead of celebrating Martin Luther King Jr, children are learning about divisive topics such as anti-racism, poverty, white privilege, and equity. Sadly, this holiday is being used to push race ideology onto our students under the guise of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE). These types of lessons are not only being taught with respect to Martin Luther King Jr, but are now embedded into many subjects. The results of these lessons are visible in communities across America and the irony is tantamount.
In reference to current events, anyone who dares point out that George Floyd was a career criminal is deemed a racist and accused of victim blaming. Anyone who doesn’t criticize some of the founding fathers for owning slaves is a racist. City and state governments are pushed to tear down statues and erase the memories of the founding fathers and historical figures, because their good deeds can’t be separated from their flaws. In contrast, statues of George Floyd can be erected and Americans must obediently separate his “accomplishment” of being killed at the hands of cops, from his violent past, including an armed robbery conviction in which he held a gun to a pregnant woman’s stomach while his friends robbed her.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools is providing lessons like this to our children. For the 2021 Martin Luther King Day celebration, the Director of Instructional Services suggested the following;
“Monday, January 18, 2021 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is a records day; students will not be in school. Please encourage your students in thoughtful learning about Dr. King or related topics. (i.e. service, poverty, equity) leading up to or after this national holiday. Use resources already at your disposal. You may also consider vetting a resource on the list compiled by the Anti-Racism Task Force through The Momentum Center. Please preview the resource before sharing with students.”
Her email references the book list prepared by the Anti-Racism Task Force at the Momentum Center as a basis for MLK Day studies. The book list contains titles such as AntiRacist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi, Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs, and The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler, This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell, White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, and White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson. Many of the books on the list make readers feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress on account of their race. They are a 180-degree opposite spin on Dr. King’s messaging and vision.
The image below is from the book Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs. While this book is meant to teach children that racism is wrong, much of the book is dedicated to white children making fun of a black boy. This is very confusing to all shades of children who have never experienced racism. Instead of teaching them that racism is wrong, it makes children begin to notice skin color when they didn’t before. It makes white children feel guilty for their skin color due to the racism displayed by white children in the story, and it makes black and brown children feel degraded. This simple children’s book works to create the victim/oppressor mentality that is so destructive to our communities. Unfortunately, many of the books recommended by the Antiracism Task Force work the same way. This is how our children are celebrating Martin Luther King Day.
Instead of fostering racism, shouldn’t Martin Luther King Day celebrate the hero who worked to bring the injustices of segregation to the attention of average Americans? Shouldn’t the facts of these injustices be presented without connecting the shame of the past to the present day characteristics of children? Shouldn’t students learn what skills and tools Martin Luther King Jr possessed that enabled him to be a successful leader? Can’t we acknowledge the improvements in our society’s race relations since the 1960’s?