Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 17, 1994 TAG: 9401170080
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
All 50 states are observing the holiday today. But most companies do not give workers the day off. Supporters saypart of the reason is the holiday is perceived as a day for blacks.
"That's a perception we need to change," said Alan Minton, director of the Martin Luther King Federal Commission in Atlanta, which was created to encourage observance of the day. "There's no need for the federal government, the state government and corporations to give off a day if it just belongs to just one group."
"The white community has not embraced the holiday as much as they possibly could, but they certainly are embracing it more and more," he said.
A survey in 1990 found that only 18 percent of Fortune 500 companies observed King Day. That number is slowly increasing, Minton said.
"Every year we do see some progress in the observance of the holiday," said Greg Moses of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, which is led by King's widow, Coretta Scott King. "Considering that it's been less than 10 years since the holiday began, I think we're reasonably pleased with the progress but hope things can continue to improve."
A spot check of a several corporations found that General Motors and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola observe the holiday, while IBM, AT&T, and Turner Broadcasting System allow workers to take the day off as a personal holiday.
"Just as we think Columbus Day is an important day and Abraham Lincoln's birthday is an important day, so is Martin Luther King Day," said Burke Stinson, a spokesman for AT&T. Employees appreciate the option of choosing what holiday of a religious nature or civic nature to observe, he said.
Stinson estimated that 10 percent of AT&T's work force takes King Day off.
To increase the holiday's popularity, supporters have begun suggesting that it be a time for community service. U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., have introduced legislation that would make King Day a day of service.
By linking the holiday with community service, supporters hope to prevent it from evolving into another day of shopping and sports on television.
"If you've got a day off and folks are taking the day off and sleeping in, then it's not going to help much," said Minton. "But if you can get people to go out and do community service, then you've got a good holiday."
by CNB