It’s another manifestation of ETTD. Since first established the Annual Let Freedom Ring MLK Day Concert has been held at the Kennedy Center. No more. It’s NOT the Kennedy Center in either name or spirit now. Organizers have bailed on the “Trump-Kennedy Center” and moved it to Howard. I for one don’t blame them.
From its first concert headed by the iconic Roberta Flack the annual event has celebrated diversity, featuring plenty of iconic performers like Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. The big name performers have been backed up by choirs from black churches and schools in DC. In over two decades this wonderful tribute has been held at the Kennedy Center and this year will be the first time it hasn’t. As The Grio tells us the event has been moved to the historic Howard (University) Theater. Frankly given how the concert’s former home has been tarnished by someone who would eliminate the MLK Day holiday if he could moving it to Howard makes a ton of sense:
The move to change locations follows several high-profile acts who have canceled or rescheduled upcoming programming at the embattled arts center, including Issa Rae, the producers of “Hamilton,” and Rhiannon Giddens. Officials have cited cost savings as the primary reason for the venue change. However, organizers, including Marc Bamuthi Joseph, the Kennedy Center’s former artistic director for social impact, didn’t hold back in expressing their relief to take the event elsewhere this year.
I would much rather that we all be spared the hypocrisy of celebrating a man who not only fought for justice, but who articulated the case for equity maybe better than anyone in American history … when the official position of this administration is an anti-equity position,” he told the outlet.
That last part sums it up perfectly. Let’s face it. Trump doesn’t want them there and neither do his equally racist pals he’s installed on the Board – after making himself Chairman of that Board. It’s not like he would have attended, nor anyone else of significance in his administration. It’s better this way. Just skip the hypocrisy so a true celebration of Dr. King can be held in a place that will honor his legacy properly.
I can’t help but wonder however if there are a couple of Trump Toadies that had been looking forward to sitting in the box reserved for Presidents and their special guests. Admittedly, not everyone in the GOP is racist but they are way too tolerant of those who are so I don’t think it’s unfair to call them out as being a racist Party. Like so many racists they just love to use the “but one of my best friends is black” line of bullshit. In the GOP’s case they’ve always got a couple of GOP politicians to trot out like some racist Minstrel Show. Then they claim “See? SEE? Look at him. And him. And once in a blue moon it’s a her” but the point is they are tokens.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott sold his soul long ago. Still, I’ll bet he was looking forward to a boost from being seen at the “Trump-Kennedy” Center to try and score some black support. That’s even more true of Representative Byron Donalds who is running for Gov. of Florida and Trump seems to be supporting. One would assume since the Democrat Party leaders in that state pretty much quit almost two decades ago the person who wins the GOP primary will replace DeSantis. However that might not be such a lock this year.
The issue of Cuba is out there. Little Marco Rubio clearly is egging Trump on to take it by military force. That would fulfill a dream of lots of old Cubans who escaped Castro’s regime and passed that hatred down to younger generations. However they are far from the only people of Hispanic Heritage in Cuba. The U.S. taking over Cuba in addition to Venezuela would inflame a lot of non-Cuban Hispanics who are already deserting Trump. That could extend to people like Donalds. That would hurt.
Worse, Trump made inroads with Black Males in the last election and THAT is eroding. Trump could and will drag Donalds down with that group too. So, I’ll bet he was looking forward to being feted at the annual MLK concert. At the KENNEDY Center (despite what Trump calls it) and that’s not going to happen. I’d be surprised if either Scott or Donalds shows up at Howard. They might not get booed in the theater itself but one can be sure outside plenty of students at arguably the nation’s top HBCU will openly voice their disapproval. It would be a bad look for both of these asshats but could be a real problem for Donalds.
In any case that’s all in the future. What matters is that one of this country’s iconic leaders will be honored n a place that actually respects what he stood for. That’s what matters:
This year’s program will also feature a new piece by Let Freedom Ring composer Nolan Williams Jr., who has been with the concert since 2003. The work, titled “Just Like Selma,” is inspired by one of King’s most enduring quotes: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
For now the arc is moving through a venue at Howard University rather than be soiled by Trumpiness. Bravo to the organizers!
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