This letter is in response to Jared Whitley’s article entitled, “Witticisms: Checkmate! King Holiday Neglects Women, Coal Miners.”
The first thing that I would like to do is extend my deepest apologies to Jared for being that ignorant, and stupid enough to write that article, let alone have it published. And Jared, it’s not entirely your fault; I blame your equally ignorant mother and father. The first thing that I would like to address is that fact that you feel guilty. I ask, for what? You aren’t that one who dragged millions of Africans from the western coasts of Africa and introduced them into a life of servitude and oppression, right? You also aren’t the one who oppressed and wiped out Native-Americans. You didn’t marginalize women into mere domestics and make the struggle for equally and long and difficult tribulation. No Jared and to any other white males who feel this way, you didn’t. But don’t preach to me the injustices of Affirmative Action and the hypocrisy of having a Martin Luther King Day. Someone is responsible for all of these atrocities, and although it isn’t you directly. I still hold you accountable. Why? Because you still benefit from the labor of the downtrodden and oppressed.
Yes, there are many groups who have fought for equal treatment, but there is no denying that the African American Civil Rights Movement was at the forefront. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which was fought for heavily by King) is not only for blacks, but it’s for protection against racism, sexism, discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, disability. The reason that King has 10,784 city streets named after him, is because King, his work, and those who fought beside him were working for everyone.
So you can say how racist and offensive Martin Luther King Day is, but the truth is, that it means a lot to a lot of people. Because without the struggle for equally, without the march-ins the sit-ins, and even dying (including King) for the cause; I would not be enrolled in this University for a chance at a better existence.
In closing, I would like to add that , “all men are created equal,” is a false statement, no matter how many people believe in it’s truth. For example, some people are obviously created stupider, as Jared has proven.
Aminatu [email protected]