Race Day Live Mississippi observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Robert E. Lee Day on the same date, a pairing that raises many questions about what the state chooses to commemorate.
For someone with deep roots in Mississippi, this combination feels deeply wrong. Honoring a Confederate general alongside a civil rights hero sends mixed messages about the state’s values.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s contributions are beyond question. His non-violent efforts, like the 1966 “March Against Fear,” aimed to ensure equality for all Americans.
His tragic assassination in 1968 made him a symbol of hope and progress. Celebrating King reflects a commitment to justice and inclusion.
In stark contrast, Robert E. Lee’s actions and legacy contradict these values. As a Confederate leader, Lee fought to uphold slavery, betraying his oath to the U.S. Army.
His army kidnapped free Black people and committed atrocities during the Civil War. Even after the war, Lee supported ideas rooted in racism, advocating for the removal of African Americans from Virginia.
The decision to honor Lee in Mississippi dates back to 1910, during the height of Jim Crow laws. At that time, the state systematically suppressed Black political participation through discriminatory laws and violence.
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The creation of Robert E. Lee Day wasn’t about honoring history but about reinforcing white supremacy.
The ideology known as the Lost Cause helped shape this narrative. It falsely claimed the Civil War was about states’ rights, not slavery, and romanticized figures like Lee.
This distorted history ignored the cruelty of slavery and the achievements of African Americans during Reconstruction.
Today, commemorating Lee perpetuates outdated values that don’t represent modern Mississippi. While studying history is essential, celebrating a figure tied to oppression undermines progress.
By ending Lee’s holiday, Mississippi can align its celebrations with the values of equality and justice that define 2025.
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