Illustration by Josh Hagler

Last year at just about this time, I wrote a reflective column on the Martin Luther King Jr. march the day after it occurred. I realize now that column was a wasted opportunity. This year, I write the column a week before the event takes place in the form of an invitation.

A week from today, the university will not hold classes. But it's not only in order for us to celebrate. For those of us living in Arizona, the day is also the 10-year anniversary of our MLK Day observance. We must pause now for a little of Arizona's more disgusting and ridiculous history.

There was a time here in the hottest state in the country when the state's government was ruled by bizarre, eccentric politicians. (No, not today - many, many years ago). Former Governor Evan Mecham was out to get rid of the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a state holiday. Come hell or high water, he succeeded.

In the following months, Arizona got everything it deserved. Hollywood turned its negative attention on us as the prominent rap artists of the day wrote billboard toppers about getting the hell out of Arizona. The Superbowl that was set to play in Phoenix was at first postponed and then moved to another city, costing the state billions in revenue and tourism. We were the joke of the country.

It's been 10 years since Arizona reinstated the state holiday, but when Martin Luther King III graced Tucson with his presence Thursday, he reminded us not to celebrate. "Just because things aren't that bad for you doesn't mean things aren't that bad," King said to about 550 people Thursday night at the MLK Memorial Dinner. He urged the crowd that night to observe MLK Day as another opportunity to continue to fight against the "three evils of racism, poverty and violence." In his speech titled, "A Dream Deferred," he cited continued inequities of the populations in the prison system and the fact that women still make 79 cents to the dollar earned by men, and African Americans earn 58 cents to the dollar that the rest of the population makes. This is the society we find ourselves living in today. Martin Luther King III carries a special power when he speaks because he is a living testament of the "I have a Dream" speech. In it, King Jr. talks about his children specifically. Remember? "My four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." King III is one of those children, and who better to point out that the dream has not yet been realized? Here we come to the crux of the argument. What then is MLK Day if neither a holiday nor a celebration?

If you plan to sleep in a week from today on the day off because you don't feel racism affects your life, then you are part of the problem. That sounds harsh, but it's something to think about. One can look at it another way as well. Ask yourself, if you as a human are not an active part of the solution, then what are you a part of? I think you'll find the answer forthcoming.

If the thoughts provoked by these questions surprise you, then do yourself the biggest favor of your life. Turn over a new leaf. At 8 a.m. - I know it is early - show up at Old Main on Monday, Jan. 21 to participate in the march.

Enough of the preaching, no need to make ourselves feel bad. Perhaps you can't march next Monday because you must work or because getting up before 8 a.m. causes serious illnesses for you. If so, then treat Jan. 21 as your New Year's Day. Resolve to let no bigoted, unsavory remark be said in your presence without some response from you. This means racist remarks of any kind against any group. A bigoted remark about one group can be a bigoted remark about any other group the next time around. Use humor! It's the best way to do it. Someone says, "That TV show is so gay," ask them, "Really? You must explain to me how that TV program is sexually attracted to other TV programs." Gets them every time.

Whether you join us at the march on Monday, Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. (did I mention it's at Old Main?) or not, use the day in the most powerful way you can.

It's not a day off, it's a day on.