In 2014, it seems like an obvious fact that our federal government would honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., but we should not forget that this was not always the case. The White House never firmly supported King’s mission during his lifetime – in fact, then U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy approved extensive wire taps and spying of the Civil Rights leader. A special division of the FBI listed him as a potential “black messiah,” labeled the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) as a “Black National Hate Group” and even authored a fake letter that, some conclude, encouraged him to commit suicide. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was not signed into being a national holiday until 1983. The holiday’s establishment was a hard-fought victory, the result of at least 15 years of lobbying on the part of – among others – King’s widowed wife Coretta Scott King and musician Stevie Wonder. These facts are a scary reminder that our federal government has not always been on the right side of history, especially on matters of civil rights and surveillance. As such, it is important to remember those who battled for the recognition of this holiday, and not treat MLK Day as a given. We at the Wheel believe we must continue to embody the spirit of MLK throughout our lives.

That being said, Emory University deserves praise for honoring the great leader for a week, not just a day. Volunteer Emory successfully represented King’s legacy through community service with Emory’s Day On, in which 400 students worked on 19 service projects in Atlanta. Emory also hosted a speech by Rev. C.T. Vivian and a social justice dialogue. The University even put together a conversation about undocumented immigrants, tying King’s teachings into modern-day issues. A full look at the array of events that the University implemented for this week showcases its commitment to honoring King.

Additionally, we urge you to take advantage of the amazing resources we have in our Southern metropolis, like the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, which, while experiencing ups and downs since its founding, now chronicles King’s life, holds archives of his letters and writings and hosts nonviolence workshops. The King Center is located in Atlanta’s historic Sweet Auburn district, historically home to the city’s black commercial community, and it is near to the APEX Museum, which presents black historical perspectives, as well as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, a beautiful melange of food from different cultures.

Furthermore, we are glad to see that a statue of King will be erected in front of the Georgia State Capitol thanks to the advocacy of many civil rights leaders and lawmakers. Activists called for the new memorial to replace an old and controversial statue of Thomas Watson, a Georgia politician and newspaper editor. It is fitting that a memorial of MLK will stand in front of the Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta, and even more fitting that its existence was brought about by activists.

However, we should be careful about the ways we use King’s name and how we remember his legacy on this day. For instance, “MLK Day Sales” represent the commercialization of a day that should be used to honor a true hero. Of course, corporations and malls have the right to market as they please – that’s merely the nature of a free-market society – however, we shouldn’t let this kind of trivialization make us forget the rich history behind MLK Day.

The progress we’ve made as a nation since the Civil Rights movement is encouraging, but race-based discrimination is by no means a resolved issue in the United States. There have been several particularly troubling examples in the news this MLK Day that illustrate racism’s ongoing presence in our nation. Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, in a Facebook post about the holiday, urged President Obama, “Mr. President, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and all who commit to ending any racial divide, no more playing the race card.” Though Palin’s comment may be referring to a quote Obama made about his standing with white voters in The New Yorker, the Facebook comment made no reference to the President’s quote and was offensive and uncalled for. In addition, a fraternity at Arizona State University was suspended after throwing an “MLK Black Party,” where white students allegedly took pictures throwing gang signs and drinking out of watermelon cups. The Arizona State example hits close to home: just last year, Emory was grappling with what some saw as racist “lynching” jokes made on the Dooley Show as well as University President James W. Wagner’s controversial three-fifths compromise article in Emory Magazine.

All one needs to do is check national headlines to realize that race-based discrimination and economic inequality are still an issue. We’ve made progress, but there’s still quite a ways to go. We at the Wheel hope that even though MLK Day has passed this year, our community will continue to learn from King’s life and message. His commitment to racial equality, and the lessons of tolerance surrounding it, should continue to inspire and influence us every day.

The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel.

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The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.

The Wheel is financially and editorially independent from the University. All of its content is generated by the Wheel’s more than 100 student staff members and contributing writers, and its printing costs are covered by profits from self-generated advertising sales.