Black Leaders Are Upset by Shunning of King Day

Eleven years ago Friday, a group of black residents in Orange County began calling on the community to recognize Jan. 15--the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday--as a holiday.

But their efforts fell short. It was not until 1986, when King’s birthday was proclaimed a national holiday by President Ronald Reagan, that county offices and businesses began closing their doors for a day in King’s honor.

As the nation prepares for its fifth commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, however, black leaders find that in Orange County the holiday is not widely observed.

“It’s very disturbing that some cities, businesses and people generally are still refusing to celebrate the day,” said James Colquitt, president of the Orange County chapter of the NAACP.

Only a handful of the county’s 29 cities will join federal, state and county government by closing public offices.

And with the exception of the majority of banks, it will be business as usual for many companies and employees. An informal survey Friday found that all of the county’s major malls will be open as merchants hope to cash in on idle workers who use a day off to shop.

Maura Eggan, marketing director of South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, said, “Because schools and banks are closed, there is an increase in traffic and it’s logical that sales (will) go up.”

At Fashion Island, Neiman-Marcus spokeswoman Debbie Bohnett agreed. “It’s a matter of business. It has nothing to do with this holiday.”

Security Pacific is the only major bank that will be open for the holiday. Wells Fargo had planned to stay open but issued a statement Friday saying it will be closed after all.

The NAACP’s Colquitt said the association has contacted Security Pacific and may decide to “punish them for insisting on opening.”

Spokesmen for the four Orange County cities--Santa Ana, Irvine, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach--whose offices will be closed on Monday said they want to show their gratitude for King and his ideals.

“We have great respect for Dr. King and the work he did,” said Santa Ana Mayor Daniel H. Young. “We also have a very active black community and would like to show them respect.”

Officials of several cities that will keep municipal offices open said they mean no disrespect to King’s memory.

“I certainly admire Dr. King for everything he did,” said Tustin Mayor Richard B. Edgar. “The difficulty is, when everyone takes off a national holiday it can be costly for the city.”

Sadie Reid-Benham, one of the residents who called for the observance of King’s birthday in 1979, said Orange County has made progress but has a long way to go.

“I hope in my lifetime Orange County will really . . . fully celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Reid-Benham, who once served on the Santa Ana Unified School District board as one of only two black elected officials in county history.

Colquitt said people should use the holiday to reflect on King’s goals and reflect on solutions to achieve peace and justice. “This is a national holiday, not a black (one),” he said. “It’s just a coincidence that Martin Luther King was black.”