Saturday, June 20, 2009

MLK Street Signs Limited to Urban Areas Only?


Something has come to my attention during my travels around the United States of America.

Are you familiar with the story of Dr. Martin Martin Luther King Jr., an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights movement?

 Well as a result of his efforts, his legacy to secure civil rights for black people in the United States lives on, and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon to this day. 

He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped to found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. In 1963 King would eventually make his infamous "I Have A Dream" speech, at a March on Washington event. 

In 1964, MLK became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination, through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. 

By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.

When national holidays roll around businesses usually close and people have a day off, in remembrance special people and moments that were captured in history. 

It's interesting that when Martin Luther King's national holiday rolls around, businesses don't close in remembrance and people are still made to go to work as if Kings achievements weren't worthy enough for people to stop and take notice.  


Moreover, traveling across the United States of America to the garden state of New Jersey, the high mountains of California, or the hot and open lands of Georgia, they all have one thing in common; Martin Luther King streets, avenues, and boulevards. However, I've noticed that all Martin Luther King streets seem to always be located in the most violent, dirty, rundown and poor neighborhoods. 

I have never, EVER, seen a Martin Luther King street sign in the suburbs, NEVER. What is the reason behind this and who decides where those signs should be placed? 

The street signs being in low income areas is fine, but why are they only limited to those areas? Is this someone's way of saying he was your black leader, so keep his name in your black communities?

King was awarded a national holiday yes, but I can't help but feel there is still some disrespect behind the positioning of those street signs. King was a leader and friend to all people not just black people, he just fought hard for black people due to the excessive hate and oppression.

I wonder if King was only awarded a national holiday because the government felt pressured to do it? 

If you remember former President George W. Bush and former presidential candidate Senator John McCain, were both opposed to having a national holiday in King's name although they knew his great battles and victories. Now why do you think this is?

Just an observation.

2009 LA

1 comment:

  1. Did you also know that Dr. Martin Luther King Dr./St/Rd. is the MOST USED street sign in the United States? His name is in EVERY city. George Washington isnt in every city. Neither is Thomas Jefferson. There is nothing racist by the fact that all of Dr. King's street name are in urban areas. I mean really, as an young African American male myself, I don't see the need to plaster Dr. Kings name everywhere. He has his own holidy, None of the other presidents or founding fathers have their own holiday. We as Americans respect Dr. King, but I personally don't think we need anymore streets named after him, no matter where they are.

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