I was recently thinking about how hard it still is for Non-black people to understand what it is like to be a Black person. Your post perfectly captured that difficulty both between individuals and within corporations. In ten decades of working as a consultant in information technology, I have only had MLK Day off when the client observers the holiday. And that has happened only once or twice. That is indicative of how companies (that are still overwhelmingly white especially at the executive levels) truly view Dr. King's legacy.
Demetrius Pinder
· 1 year ago
As the owner of a black owned web design/computer repair company, RiDE Group, LLC will ALWAYS have MLK Day off!
Martin Lindsey
· 1 year ago
It's simply a difference between government and private industry as you mentioned. No private industry takes all the holidays like government does and all private entities pick and choose the holidays they do and don't observe. It's different for all of them.
ETS
· 1 year ago
I never got MLK Day off until moving to Arizona - a state that didn't recognize the day until 2000. Go figure. And I work in the media - an industry that would probably keep me in the office during the Rapture if they had the power.
The issue is a much bigger one. It's about the mainstream not understanding that the fight for equality is not a "black" fight or a "female" issue. It's a PEOPLE issue. They still think MLK Day is a "black" holiday. Its so sad, because that thought process proves the necessity of the day.
King himself said, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
I know many blacks who choose to work that day to show their support of the Day. They believe they have jobs that they wouldn't have been able to have had it not been for King and folks like them, so they honor him by working them.
But as for me and my house ..... we will NOT be in the office! LOL. Seriously taking the day off in honor of all of my ancestors who didn't have any days of rest on the plantation and hell, ... in their offices now!
Demetrius Pinder
· 1 year ago
If you're a black owned business, I say that we honor MLK Day by declaring that black owned businesses are closed on MLK Day. I even set my email to the following:
"In observance of MLK Day, RiDE Group, LLC will be closed on Monday, January 21st. If it's an emergency, please send a email with the word "EMERGENCY" with the title of your email.
Thanks, Demetrius Pinder"
If it wasn't for MLK, I wouldn't be where I am today! Especially for my generation (I am 27), we are TRULY reaping the benefits of his struggle and fight!
All Comments
The issue is a much bigger one. It's about the mainstream not understanding that the fight for equality is not a "black" fight or a "female" issue. It's a PEOPLE issue. They still think MLK Day is a "black" holiday. Its so sad, because that thought process proves the necessity of the day.
King himself said, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
I know many blacks who choose to work that day to show their support of the Day. They believe they have jobs that they wouldn't have been able to have had it not been for King and folks like them, so they honor him by working them.
But as for me and my house ..... we will NOT be in the office! LOL. Seriously taking the day off in honor of all of my ancestors who didn't have any days of rest on the plantation and hell, ... in their offices now!
"In observance of MLK Day, RiDE Group, LLC will be closed on Monday, January 21st. If it's an emergency, please send a email with the word "EMERGENCY" with the title of your email.
Thanks,
Demetrius Pinder"
If it wasn't for MLK, I wouldn't be where I am today! Especially for my generation (I am 27), we are TRULY reaping the benefits of his struggle and fight!