Not quite seizing MLK Day

There is an Orange County in North Carolina that actually celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

They do real things to help transform their community: feed and clothe the homeless; tackle early childhood education; make soup mixes and create baby blankets.

More than 35,000 volunteers get involved representing 80 nonprofit agencies and 500 corporate and community sponsors. Oh, and by the way, Orange County, N.C. has a population less than Fullerton.

What happens in Laguna Beach, Orange County, Calif., home to the largest percentage of nonprofits per capita in the country outside of Washington, D.C.?

Nothing, really.

Federal employees get the day off. The rest of us have to work. Later, we might watch a new episode of “The Bachelor.”

In Orange County, N.C., the largest town is Chapel Hill, home to the famous University of North Carolina, the oldest university in the United States.

They know a little bit about the issues that were dear to Dr. King.

By no means are North Carolina or Chapel Hill stalwarts of Kingian virtue, but at least they try. I did not know this, but in 1968, Chapel Hill became the first largely white municipality in the U.S. to elect an African-American mayor. His name was Howard Lee, and he served from 1969 to 1975. His greatest achievement: establishing Chapel Hill Transit, the town’s bus system.

Laguna’s most memorable achievement regarding MLK Day happened in 2011. Thalia Surf Shop decided to try and drum up business with an advertisement. They Photoshopped Dr. King’s head onto a wetsuit-wearing surfer and announced “20% off all black products.”

Of course it went viral in nanoseconds: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Europe, Hawaii. The mortified owner immediately retracted the ad and issued a heartfelt apology. I know the man personally and am confident it was just a momentary lapse in judgment.

But perhaps in some way, the lack of any real appreciation for MLK Day in the West Coast version of Orange County creates sensitivity blind spots.

For example, let’s evaluate what is happening in the OC this Jan. 18.

The local United Way is trying to get people to volunteer for “critical community issues.” But on its MLK “Day of Service” web page, there are no descriptions or special activities. There is a link to overall volunteer opportunities, but nothing specific to MLK.

They have a national slogan, though: “A Day On, Not a Day Off!”

That’s nice.

The 10th annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week is starting Monday. No connection to MLK is mentioned.

The Irvine International Film Festival is running. Again, no real MLK angle — nothing, for example, about Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy Award. Or most recently, Denzel Washington getting the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes.

Here’s a funny one. CBS in Los Angeles is recommending the five “best ways to commemorate MLK Jr. Day in OC.” I’m not making this up.

The first suggestion is to attend the “28th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace & Unity Parade And Celebration” in Long Beach.

That’s good, but Long Beach is not in Orange County.

The second recommendation is to attend the Tustin Library. Small problem: The library is closed on MLK Day. “That doesn’t mean you can’t check out books about Dr. King prior to the holiday,” they write.

Like that’s going to happen.

The third thing is to go to the “Orange County Hall Of Administration.” I have no idea what that is. Apparently, it’s some government building in Santa Ana. Again, it’s closed. Oh wait, there’s more, according to CBS: “MLK Jr. was known for his activism. … Engaging with local governments, even just through the act of sending letters, is a way of making your voice heard. It lets the people in charge know something is amiss or even that they should keep up the good work.”

So we’re supposed to write a strongly worded letter on MLK Day. I see.

The fourth suggestion is the United Way day of service, which I mentioned, but as you know, there are no special activities.

OK, finally, the last thing you can do in Orange County, Calif. is to hit the “regional trails.” Yes, that’s right, hiking is similar to marching, and not only that, “praying.”

“Marching and praying are the meditative practices MLK Jr. emphasized while he was fighting for civil rights,” according to CBS. “Walking the interconnected trails of OC is a good opportunity for prayer and reflection.”

Yeah-no … getting a heady sweat on is not my idea of community service.

Obviously, there is some work to do, and it’s not in the dappled hills of Orange County, Calif.

DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.