Honoring MLK: We should observe this holiday for its true meaning

By Debra Mitchell-Braxton

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast was established 20 years ago to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The breakfast celebration began with 25 attendees and has grown significantly over the 20 years. In January 2005, the confirmed reservations for the event were 1,172.

Throughout those 20 years, members from the Southeast Missouri State University campus, Cape Girardeau and surrounding communities have attended the celebration on the national holiday.

The Southeast Missourian published an article on Dec. 15 informing readers that the university had decided to forgo hosting the breakfast. The university stated it was establishing a new tradition of a memorial dinner for the next generation of students.

Traditions are established to be embraced and honored and to continue over time. It is not necessary to destroy one tradition to build a new one.

What type of message does an institution of higher education send to those who have embraced this tradition for the past two decades? Educational institutions should be taking the lead in teaching and honoring our history. Southeast's decision to abruptly cancel a long-standing tradition honoring the King holiday shows blatant disrespect for his legacy and disregards the importance of honoring the national holiday. It sends a message to students at Southeast that national holidays can be expunged.

Southeast's stated reason for canceling the long-standing tradition was to host an event after the beginning of the semester to allow students to attend. Spring semester classes have begun for approximately 10 years after the King holiday. So what is so unique about this year? I find this to be such a lame excuse.

As the founder of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast and an advocate to protect the holiday, I am greatly concerned with the university's decision. The Dr. King committee implemented additional programs in late January and February for students to attend. During my tenure on the committee we never discussed canceling the tradition.

Students' attendance was not the sole purpose for establishing the event. Nor is their lack of attendance a justifiable reason to cancel the tradition. Many individuals, churches, businesses, agencies and elementary and secondary schools have chosen to embrace this celebration. The message is clear that the university does not respect the national holiday honoring Dr. King.

Approximately one-third of Southeast's students reside in the Cape Girardeau area. One-third are commuter students who live within driving range of the campus. And the other one-third live in residence halls. Students have the opportunity to move into the campus residence halls prior to Dr. King's holiday. Move-in occurs on the weekend prior to each semester along with a variety of events. The majority of Southeast's' students are in Cape Girardeau prior to the national holiday.

I have observed throughout my educational experiences that students must be taught, guided and encouraged to embrace traditions. They must be made aware of the contributions of Americans from all ethnic backgrounds.

Southeast does not choose to cancel other events that occur prior to the beginning of the semester -- homecoming celebration, basketball/football games, commencement ceremonies, family weekend and freshman convocation -- due to fluctuation in student attendance.

So just why did Southeast choose to end a 20-year tradition honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? You do not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the reason for this decision.

One might also ask, "Does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s son know that his appearance in Cape Girardeau tonight discontinues a 20-year tradition honoring the work and life of his father? Should a son be used to overshadow a celebration honoring his father?

The university has within its mission statement "Service to the region." It has a facility that seats well over 7,000 individuals for a lecture-style event and the capacity to seat 1,300 individuals for a banquet-type event. The university's decision to a host a dinner charging $15 limits those who are economically disadvantaged and disregards King's philosophy. The dinner is significantly higher in price than the memorial breakfast. A patron sponsorship was established to cover the cost for various individuals wishing to attend the breakfast.

I believe that what self-centered men have torn down other centered men can build up. (Words of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)

Debra Mitchell-Braxton of Cape Girardeau is an advocate to protect and honor the Martin Luther King Day holiday and founder of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast.