January 19th 2025.
In the United States, there are two states, Mississippi and Alabama, that still observe the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on the same day as the federal holiday honoring Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. This is in contrast to the other states, including Lee's home state of Virginia, which have chosen to discontinue this practice.
According to reports from the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, there have been multiple attempts to separate these two holidays in Mississippi, but they were unsuccessful in both 2023 and 2024. State Representative Kabir Karriem recently introduced a bill to divide the celebrations, proposing a state holiday to solely recognize Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on the third Monday of January.
In 2018, Karriem shared his thoughts on the matter with the Columbus Commercial Dispatch, stating that while both Lee and King have made significant impacts on history, it is time to separate their celebrations. He believes that it is long overdue for King, a Civil Rights icon, to be given his own holiday.
Meanwhile, in Alabama, a similar effort to separate the commemoration of Robert E. Lee from that of Martin Luther King Jr. has also faced challenges. Despite bipartisan support, a Senate bill to move Alabama's Lee Day to the date of his death in October did not make it out of committee. Another bill, proposed by State Representative Chris England, which aimed to remove Lee's holiday from the calendar altogether, also failed to pass.
In contrast, Louisiana was successful in decoupling these two holidays in 2020. State Senator Jay Luneau described the elimination of Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day from the state's list of holidays as an important step in acknowledging their history of racism and moving towards reconciliation.
Unfortunately, it seems that neither Alabama nor Mississippi are ready to take this step towards recognizing their past and addressing issues of racism. As we continue to reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the ongoing fight for civil rights, it is essential to acknowledge and learn from our history, even when it is painful and uncomfortable. This is why the National Civil Rights Museum is offering free admission on MLK Day, to celebrate "community over chaos" and promote education and reflection on these important issues.
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