The other day, a respected, Washington, D.C. real estate broker called me. He told me he’d had a disturbing experience that reminded him of the dark days of the slavery era. This unpleasant regression was triggered, he said, when he had called a government office in Virginia about renewing his Virginia real estate license. He was greeted by the following pre-recorded message:
“Hello. You have reached the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Our offices are currently closed. We will remain closed on Jan 13th through Jan 16th in observance of the Lee-Jackson-Martin Luther King Holidays. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, Jan 17th, at 8:15 am. You are welcome to visit our website at www.dpor.virginia.gov. And possibly that can assist you until we’re back in the office Jan. 17th. Thank you.”
In disbelief and dismay, I also called the number at 804-367-8526. I was met by the same greeting. In shock, I tried to comprehend how these two radically different oppositions - the birthday of a great civil rights leader and the birthdays of two Confederate generals - could be co-mingled in the same greeting.
My real estate acquaintance used to work in Virginia. He knows they fly a lot of Confederate flags. It’s an on-going joke among certain D.C. circles that “Commonwealth of Virginia” is code for “Confederates of Virginia.” But my acquaintance was startled to hear this message from a state regulating body, not a group of coward citizens hiding under sheets. As my real estate colleague said, “When you are unexpectedly forced to dial into to it, it’s appalling.” He basically felt tricked into listening to Confederate rhetoric.
After some research on the web, here’s what I found. The Lee-Jackson-King Day was a holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1984 to 2000. Part of the holiday’s history can be traced to 1883, when the Commonwealth of Virginia established an official state holiday marking Robert E. Lee’s birthday (Jan. 19). Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, another native of Virginia, was added in 1904. Its seems Jackson’s birthday is on Jan. 21. When the United States Congress declared Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15) Day a national holiday in 1984, the state of Virginia merged the state and national holidays into the Lee-Jackson-King Day. After opposition about whether it was proper to simultaneously celebrate the three birthdays, Virginia decided to split the holidays in 2000. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday January 15 is now celebrated on the third Monday of January each year, with the Lee-Jackson Day the Friday before.
After some reflection, I’m still alarmed by the phone recording. It casually mixes the two holidays in one bland-but-deeply insulting recording. Apparently, someone didn’t have enough decency to separate a man who stood for equity, equality, fairness, human rights and peace, with men who fought to keep alive racism, segregation and slavery as a justified economic system benefitting lazy citizens. How many more seconds was necessary to say, “We’re closed on the 13th for the Lee-Jackson holiday, and closed on the 16th for the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday?” There’s a reason no national holiday exists for Lee and Jackson. I think the people who perpetuate the “Lee-Jackson-King Day” concept are being lazy and resistant bigots. They just can't accept that they lost.
We fought hard for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Imagine hosting a birthday party for Martin Luther King, Jr. now, to which everyone, including past and present luminaries, was invited. Do you believe Lee and Jackson would show up? So why are some people still trying to crash the party? It shows how some people can’t suppress their own racism. And we shouldn’t have to dial into that s***.
Unfortunately, it appears in this case the Commonwealth of Virginia has gone too far to try to hold on to its history, which is so tied up with historical racism. Is there any hope for diversity and inclusion in a state that is willing to perpetuate historical racism and divisiveness?
For further reading about this issue, see:
Lee-Jackson Day and The South’s Continuing Confederate Fetish
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/lee-jackson-day-and-the-souths-continuing-confederate-fetish/
A Place in History: Historical Perspectives on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/historynow/06_2005/historian.php
For further literature about the sour losers failure to accept progress, review:
The Confederate States of America: What Might Have Been
Look Away! A History of the Confederate States of America
The Confederate State of Richmond: A Biography of the Capital
Please share your ideas, views, and comments below or send your input via email to patrick@metamorftech.com
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