ESL casino hypes gambling for MLK day
I consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur of casino cuisine. I’m not a gambler. Yet, I do appreciate the opportunity to dine (rather inexpensively) thanks to the generosity of those who choose to test their luck.
Recently, however, I nearly lost my appetite during a trip to the Casino Queen (in East St. Louis). The source of my nausea: a sign promoting “Double Points” for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Maybe it’s just me (judging from the hoards of black folks racing past the sign toward the casino boat), but what in the world do gambling and Dr. King have in common? And why was no one else insulted other than yours truly?
Since when did Dr. King’s dream include black folks’ right to gamble for double points? As I recall, King took a bullet and paid the ultimate price for racial equality and equal access. I sincerely doubt that Dr. King was fighting for our equal access to the Black Jack table!
But I’m not at all surprised that the Casino Queen would exploit and bastardize the memory and legacy of Dr. King. For them, his birthday is yet another opportunity to increase their bottom-line; which is to make a quick buck!
To watch black folks (particularly those who were old enough to remember MLK and the flagrant racism of 40-50 years ago) breeze past this flagrant insult to King and African Americans was (for me) especially painful.
King’s birthday has only been a federal holiday for 20 years; yet many of “us” have become chronic amnesia victims, who don’t even recognize when we (and our martyrs) are being insulted.
King had a crystal clear and eloquently articulated dream. The Casino Queen, on the other hand, had a superficial and transparent scheme.
Their scheme is not unlike the schemes of those who have MLK Day department store sales, basketball games, parties and other trivial social events (all in the name of Dr. King).
What was once a “holy day” (at least among African Americans) has now become as commercialized and as mainstream as Halloween, Easter and Christmas.
And if “good Christians” will allow the so-called birthday of Jesus to be exploited and hustled, then who am I to have the audacity to feel that Dr. King’s day deserves even some modicum of respect?
Am I saying that the Casino Queen management is racist? Maybe, but not necessarily. I’ve witnessed The Casino Queen, annually, distribute toys to the children of ESL School District 189 during the Christmas holidays.
Is Casino Queen management insensitive? You bet. The fact that there are tons of African-American and ESL residents who are employees or managers (of the casino) obviously means nothing. They have no voice. They are expendable; powerless.
The reality is that, were it not for Dr. King’s death and sacrifices, these black folks would not have the opportunity to work for the Casino Queen (or Dairy Queen, for that matter).
King had his brains blown out for those rights. Yet we’ve oftentimes become so complacent and comfortable in our enjoyment of our freedoms that we allow the very man who gave his life for those liberties to be blatantly disrespected. Shame on us.
Keeping Dr. King’s dream alive is more than a cliché. It’s about remaining ever vigilant. It’s about reminding future generations from whence they (and their rights) came. It’s about never allowing anyone to trivialize the memory and history of our struggle and those who gave their lives on our behalf.
“Double Points” for MLK Day? Give me a break!
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.