I think President’s Day should be replaced with a new holiday – Black Panthers Day.

Why? While some presidents like John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama were exceptionally talented and smart individuals, many other were really bad. The president, while the executive figure in our government, really is just one person, a mere mortal in time, not a citizens movement empowered for change.

In contrast, the Black Panthers were dedicated to making their communities better, following the law, and protecting themselves from the violence of the state. The Black Panthers took on the American ethos far more any president – self-reliance, community engagement, looking out for one and another. Few movements have ever been as truly American as that of the panthers.

Our country should celebrate individual empowerment and what communities can do to protect themselves working together, and not relying on the often corrupt state that is disconnected from local communities’ own needs. 

We don’t need another holiday like President’s Day celebrating monarchy and the rich and powerful in our country. We need holidays that celebrate the people, especially those who work so hard to improve our communities. That’s why I think we should replace Presidents Day with a Black Panthers Day.