Fraternity and Nightclubs Misuse MLK Day

Current Events
Local civil rights leaders are calling for the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Arizona State University to be expelled after photos emerged of a MLK Day-themed party where attendees wore stereotypical hip-hop clothes and drank out of watermelon cups.

Images have circulated across social media of partygoers wearing saggy pants, baggy basketball jerseys, gang-affiliated colored T-shirts and bandanas. The partygoers also appeared to flash gang signs and used hashtags such as ‘blackoutformlk’ and ‘ihaveadream’ while posing with hollowed out watermelon cups.

The Rev. Jarrett Maupin is demanding the university permanently revoke recognition for the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, which was already on probation for fighting with a rival fraternity before this incident. “We want them gone,” he said.

The fraternity incident certainly crossed the line of respect and decorum, however, theirs was not the only MLK Day misstep.

Current Events
Various nightclubs, strip bars and social organizations throughout the country used Dr. King’s name and image on flyers to promote social events during MLK weekend.  One Michigan outlet even used King’s image to promote a “Freedom 2 Twerk” twerking contest.  Rev. Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the civil rights icon, called such misrepresentation of her father’s legacy “appalling” and “embarrassing.”

“For me, as his daughter, it’s like ‘wow’, I lost a father who sacrificed everything for them to live a much more dignified and respectful life, and for it to come to this makes me sad,” King told an Atlanta station.

With President’s Day sales showing Washington and Lincoln selling everything from mattresses to pizza’s and now Dr. King being used to promote racist white fraternity parties or foolish “twerking” events, where do we draw the line?