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Darlington joins community in support of King holiday
Dec 12, 2002 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
By proclamation of the President of the United States, on Jan. 14, 1994, the third Monday in January was declared the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. Nearly 10 years later, Darlington School will celebrate the holiday not as a day off, but as a day “on,” taking time during the regular school day to actively support Dr. King’s vision of equality and his belief in the importance of teaching children the value and significance of every human being.
The entire Upper School, faculty and students, will join others in marching down Broad Street to the Rome City Auditorium on Monday morning, Jan. 20, for the city’s 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “This is our opportunity to demonstrate solidarity, especially with the black community,” David Hicks, president, said. “We hope it sends a positive message of support to our own minority students. Besides, with so many cultures represented in our student body, we have a unique opportunity to use this holiday as a teaching moment. There’s no better way to learn history than by re-enacting it and hearing from those who experienced the historical moment firsthand.”
“We want our students to learn that this is not just a black holiday; it is just as significant to other races, especially to white folks like myself, because it celebrates the liberation of white as well as black Americans,” Hicks said. “We no longer have to live in a society where the color of our skin matters more than the content of our character. We no longer face the embarrassment of having to sit in the front of the bus or use doors marked WHITES ONLY. All the burden of this injustice and hypocrisy has been removed from our backs as well, thanks to the leadership of Dr. King and all those courageous souls, black and white, who followed his beautiful example of non-violent resistance.”
Last year, about 1,000 people participated in Rome’s observance of the holiday.
The entire Upper School, faculty and students, will join others in marching down Broad Street to the Rome City Auditorium on Monday morning, Jan. 20, for the city’s 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “This is our opportunity to demonstrate solidarity, especially with the black community,” David Hicks, president, said. “We hope it sends a positive message of support to our own minority students. Besides, with so many cultures represented in our student body, we have a unique opportunity to use this holiday as a teaching moment. There’s no better way to learn history than by re-enacting it and hearing from those who experienced the historical moment firsthand.”
“We want our students to learn that this is not just a black holiday; it is just as significant to other races, especially to white folks like myself, because it celebrates the liberation of white as well as black Americans,” Hicks said. “We no longer have to live in a society where the color of our skin matters more than the content of our character. We no longer face the embarrassment of having to sit in the front of the bus or use doors marked WHITES ONLY. All the burden of this injustice and hypocrisy has been removed from our backs as well, thanks to the leadership of Dr. King and all those courageous souls, black and white, who followed his beautiful example of non-violent resistance.”
Last year, about 1,000 people participated in Rome’s observance of the holiday.
