It is hard to believe that on the cusp of a new decade, we are having a discussion about renaming a street in Lewes to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is even more difficult to fathom how this request languished in City Hall for more than two years. City officials recently apologized for the delay, but no one could explain why this request was tabled and ignored.
But enough of looking back on what was not done…now is a time for action.
A repeated objection to changing the name of W. 4th Street seems to involve the administrative cost that will be incurred by residents. When I moved from Montgomery County, Md., to Lewes, I also had to submit a change of address for health insurance, life insurance, car insurance, driver’s license and registration, etc. Most of these changes were made online at little or no cost.
If one were not aware, it would be easy to think that African-Americans played little or no role in the history of Lewes. There are no historical markers to indicate where a once-thriving African-American community existed, and it certainly is not part of the history curriculum in schools.
Renaming W. 4th Street seems like a small, but significant first step in acknowledging the contributions that African-Americans made and continue to make to this community.
Many people view streets named in honor of Dr. King as a way to carry on his unfinished work to create racial equality and economic justice in the U.S. More streets named after Dr. King, especially in prominent parts of town, may help educate a wider white public of the relevance of civil rights and African-American historical contributions.
Dr. King worked to build bridges across communities regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. What better way to honor Dr. King than by renaming a street that connects diverse communities?
It is ironic that I can drive on Plantation Road (yes, Plantation Road) in Lewes, but the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade route doesn’t even cross a street in Lewes named in honor of the civil rights champion. I have to admit that I was initially content with an honorary name change (mainly because I wasn’t aware that other options were still available).
However, after hearing from members of the community (black and white) it became apparent that an honorary name change just isn’t sufficient. Dr. King and the other leaders of the Civil Rights movement didn’t endure physical and mental abuse for our “honorary” rights.
Dr. King once said, “Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.”
Now is the time for the Mayor and City Council of Lewes to rename W. 4th Street because it is right. Generations yet to be born will look back at the decisions we make and judge us.
Calvin Jackson
Lewes
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