MLK Day transcends race

In my classes, I repeatedly find myself in the same uncomfortable situation—I am the only black guy, and the professor mentions something about race. I know the ensuing situation well, as all eyes carefully make their way over to mine, only to quickly dart away to the floor or ceiling when I look back. The situation is complicated when this happens over and over in the same class, as I end up being the class's primary source on Black America. A ball of excitement and anxiety falls to the bottom of my gut and embarrassment burns to the outside of my face. I straighten up my posture to evenly support the weight of what I am about to tell them.

EUGENE WONG/YH

This is how I felt when someone asked me for my feelings about Yale's decision not to cancel classes for Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day. My fear of being misunderstood as an absolute and limiting voice for black students at Yale seized my mind. However, this fear could never stop me from having strong feelings about the matter. I do.

Besides religious holidays, MLK Day is the most important day on the United States calendar to me. This holiday stands as a sign of hope that King's mission of equality in this country has not yet been aborted. The day also reminds us of the cold and dangerous results of bigotry, as shown in the martyrdom of one of the greatest civil rights leaders.

For the last 14 years, the Administrators of Yale have not deemed that classes should be cancelled in King's honor. This is clearly an offense to the students who take the holiday seriously and plan commemorative events. This day is a busy and important one for the students who are attending, planning, or speak-ing at workshops. They should not have to miss classes to participate.

This day is worth cancelling classes if for nothing more than remembrance. Of course some students would ignore the reasons behind MLK Day and simply choose to enjoy a day off. However, the same can be said for Independence Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other major holiday. Yet no Administrator would dare undercut the importance of these holidays by holding classes simply because some students would like a "day off."

If our Administration needs reasons why MLK Day is important enough for Yale to close down classes, here are more: James of Jasper, Tex.; Brandon of Humboldt, Neb., Ivan and Melanie of Chicago, Ill.; Matthew of Laramie, Wyo.; Tammy, Barbara, and Lorna of Maine; and dozens more. These names are from MTV's list of hate crime victims that aired for 19 hours straight on Thurs., Jan. 11 and Fri., Jan. 12. All of the victims were attacked because of their race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or gender. More startling, all of the attacks occurred within the last three years.

I do not feel uncomfortable saying something about this. This is my place—and I am not speaking on behalf of all black students. The legacy of King is not exclusively for black students: its social and historical significance are just as important to every other student here as it is to me. Unfortunately, this country has not come to a point where prejudice and hate are only bad memories of earlier times, though when that day comes, I am not so sure that MLK Day will be any less important.

This holiday is the most important holiday on my calendar. Yale should treat the memory of King with the gravity and respect it warrants. This I say confidently, with my back straight. Christopher A. Jordan is a freshman in Pierson.

Back to Opinion...