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Sunday, December 11, 2005
Changes should make ‘06 King Day more inclusive
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Everybody’s invited.
Robbie S. Moore wants that understood.
Her group, the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, is spreading the word about the 2006 King Day Celebration, which takes place Jan. 16. The march, from the Historic Courthouse in downtown Lawrenceville to Central Gwinnett High School, begins at 10 a.m. At the school, a guest speaker will reflect on the man, his life and his dream.
The news release reached me via e-mail. It asks that AJC Gwinnett News run information about the celebration in our calendar listing as many times as possible. Organizers want to prevent a repeat of what happened last time.
Remember?
Last Jan. 18, I wrote about the lack of white attendance at the United Ebony Society’s celebration as well as one held at Shiloh High. I wondered why. Dozens of readers responded. Some of you said you viewed the recognition of King as a “black holiday.” Others said you’d attended programs in the past and failed to see a purpose. And a few said that you simply didn’t feel welcome.
Few, though, were as blunt as Paul Smith, a reader from Buford.
“The King Day rhetoric from some of your leaders is very much anti-white,” he wrote. “African-American leadership will take the platforms of America during King Week to blast our president, the “white leadership” and “white establishment” of America. Many in the black community use this time of media attention not to uphold the honor and integrity of Dr. King, but to stress some social agenda (abortion rights, gay marriage) that will alienate many Anglos.
“I would like to hear more speeches and see more activities relating to the true vision of Dr. King. The vision and belief where he stated: ‘A man should not be judged by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.’ Until this happens, you will witness the King Holiday as a black holiday.”
Apparently what Smith and others said resonated with Moore and her troops. Changes have been made. Changes to better publicize the event, give it purpose and make it all-inclusive.
“This isn’t a black thing,” Moore, the society’s president, told me. “It’s a community thing.
“We are definitely inviting everybody in Gwinnett County to participate. We are trying to encourage as much openness, participation and unity as we can. We’re trying so hard to get information out and get people involved from the community.”
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Keeping the Dream Alive Through Caring and Giving.” Those who attend are asked to bring canned goods to donate to the cupboards of Gwinnett’s cooperative ministries.
“Helping poor people was the kind of thing King did,” Moore said. “We want as many people from churches and schools to participate as possible.”
I know how holidays can be. Many of us would prefer to do absolutely zilch. Nothing wrong with that.
But I received e-mails and calls from people from different racial backgrounds who promised that they’d get off the couch for King Day 2006. Especially if changes to the program were made.
Well, the United Ebony Society has done its part. Let’s turn out and see what it has dreamt up.
Maybe we’ll learn something.
