Americans:

On the Eve of the day that has been set aside to honour the accomplishments of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Leader of the Civil Rights Movement, I have a question for you…

(EPIC #Thread)
Before I ask that question, please allow me to show you some places where it seems that having a MLK Day is still (in 2018) an issue.

Some of these holidays are federal, and some are only observed at the state level.

(The holidays are combined, unless otherwise noted.)

2/
#Arizona= Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day.
#Idaho= Martin Luther King Jr./Idaho Civil Rights Day.
#NewHampshire=Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day. (MLK added in 1999.)

3/
Now, for the more disturbing states:

#Alabama=Robert E. Lee/Martin Luther King Birthday.
#Mississippi= Robert E. Lee/Martin Luther King Birthday.

4/
#Virginia originally combined MLK Day, with the already established “Lee-Jackson Day”. (Lee-Jackson-King Day)

(Lee-Jackson Day was moved to the Friday BEFORE MLK Day, in 2006.)

5/
#Arkansas=As of 2017, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday was given its own day.

(Robert E. Lee’s Birthday celebration was moved to October.)

Which brings us to:

Confederate Memorial Day. ( #CMD)

6/
Mississippi & Alabama celebrate #CMD in April.

#Texas calls it “Confederate Heroes Day” and it’s celebrated on January 19th.

If all of that is not horrible enough, for you…

7/
Welcome to April--A.K.A. Confederate History MONTH! #CHM

The dates/months are not always uniform, but there are regular celebrations in:

Alabama, Mississippi, and #Louisiana.

PLUS...

8/
Texas STARTED in 1999.
Florida started in 2007.
#Georgia made it official in 2009.

The most recent state was:

9/
Virginia.

They STOPPED celebrating it, in 2002…but Governor Bob McDonnell declared April #CHM, in 2010.

After strong public outcry against it, he expressed regret for issuing the Proclamation, and has indicated he will not issue another one for #CHM.

10/
So the question I’d like you to consider is:

What colour are YOUR holidays?

Let’s just take a look at the ‘colour’ of the holidays in the U.S. for a moment, shall we?

11/
The Baby New Year/Old Year (Father Time)?

Both are usually portrayed as white.

12/
Cupid/Cherubs?

Usually portrayed as white.

13/
George Washington?

A White Guy.

14/
Abraham Lincoln?

Another White Guy.

15/
Leprechauns?

Usually portrayed as white.

16/
The Easter Bunny?

Usually portrayed as a white bunny.
(Even before Spicy had the job.) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😉" title="Winking face" aria-label="Emoji: Winking face">

17/
Mother’s Day?

Usually portrayed as white.
(In this card, even the CAT MOM, is white!) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏾" title="Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)">

18/
Memorial Day?

The Heroes and the fallen are usually portrayed as white.

19/
Father’s Day?

Usually portrayed as white.

20/
Uncle Sam?

Usually portrayed as white.
(Sometimes, even starring in Racist Propaganda.) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Face with rolling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Face with rolling eyes">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏾" title="Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)">

21/
Labor Day?

The Workers are usually portrayed as white.
(As are those depicted enjoying the leisure activities afforded to those who work so hard.)

22/
Labor Day? The Workers are usually portrayed as white.(As are those depicted enjoying the leisure activities afforded to those who work so hard.)22/
Labor Day? The Workers are usually portrayed as white.(As are those depicted enjoying the leisure activities afforded to those who work so hard.)22/
Columbus Day?

He wasn’t considered to be “white” at first, but is now a white guy.

23/
Halloween?

Ghosts are white, and dressing in blackface was just *SO* funny. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Face with rolling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Face with rolling eyes">
(This card was NOT unusual to see, btw.) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏾" title="Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)">

24/
Veterans?

See Memorial Day.
(Also; please note the inclusion of the Confederate Veteran.) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏾" title="Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)">

25/
Thanksgiving?

The Broad-Breasted White Turkey is the most common star of the meal.

(Okay-that& #39;s a bit of a stretch...but I have NO doubt that you& #39;ve seen the whole Pilgrims and "Friendly Savages" crap by now.)

26/
Santa?

Usually portrayed as white.

(But, WE all know from @JoyAnnReid’s excellent reporting, that #SantaLarry is the REAL Santa!) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😉" title="Winking face" aria-label="Emoji: Winking face">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💚" title="Green heart" aria-label="Emoji: Green heart">

27/
ALL of those holidays have historically been ‘seen’ as white. Save Mother’s Day, as both white AND male.

We all need to stop those people who attempt to claim some sort of “equality” in celebrating men like Lee, & Jackson, AND MLK--as there is none.

MLK=American HERO. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏾" title="Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)">

28/
The number of PoC (and women of ALL races) who have been minimized or even removed from the collective culture and history of America is as STAGGERING as it is insulting.

This year-in honour of what the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, I have an humble suggestion.

29/
I’m asking you for some Civil Engagement, Community Improvement/Service, and a #OneMatch action.

Write, call—or even tweet--to these states at ALL levels. Tell them how you spend YOUR money there, and that you’ll boycott, unless they change.

Then follow through. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💚" title="Green heart" aria-label="Emoji: Green heart">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖖🏾" title="Raised hand with part between middle and ring fingers (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Raised hand with part between middle and ring fingers (medium dark skin tone)">

(End)
When #TheResistance stands together, this sort of action WORKS.
(I even brought receipts!) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😉" title="Winking face" aria-label="Emoji: Winking face">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏾" title="Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index (medium dark skin tone)"> https://www.bustle.com/p/biloxi-mississippi-tried-to-make-mlk-day-great-americans-day-i-had-to-speak-up-7903355">https://www.bustle.com/p/biloxi-...
Biloxi, Mississippi Tried To Make MLK Day "Great Americans Day." I Had To Speak Up

On the evening of January 13 last year, a routine tweet about municipal office closures became a hot-button issue. In a now-deleted post, the city of Biloxi, Mississippi, stated of MLK Day: "Non-em...

https://www.bustle.com/p/biloxi-mississippi-tried-to-make-mlk-day-great-americans-day-i-had-to-speak-up-7903355
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