CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 For some, Monday brought a quiet day off, a chance to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s legacy. For others, it was just another workday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho gets it off?\u201d a man asked at a Stripes convenience store on Morgan Avenue. When told it was a federal holiday, he replied, \u201cYou\u2019re right\u2026 my wife does insurance and she\u2019s off today.\u201d<\/p>\n
On a day meant to honor equality, not everyone gets to celebrate the same way. <\/p>\n
Across the city, many businesses remained open, and some workers said taking the day off wasn\u2019t an option.\u201cEven if I wanted to take the day off, it wouldn’t be good for me. It\u2019s hard\u2026 it\u2019s hard times right now for sure,\u201d said a cashier at Bleu Frog.<\/p>\n
Workers also noted, the holiday isn\u2019t equally accessible to everyone. \u201cIn theory it isn\u2019t fair, but I think there\u2019s only a reasonable amount of people that can be off,\u201d one employee said, reflecting on workplace policies across the board.<\/p>\n
For small business owners, staying open is often a practical choice. At Hesters on Alameda St., owner Jason Rodriguez said, \u201cWe\u2019re closed Sundays when most places aren\u2019t, so a lot of times when we have these three-day weekends, Monday is a good day for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The contrast between those who must work and those who can take the day off echoes Dr. King\u2019s focus on economic justice\u2014calling for fair wages, worker dignity, and opportunity for all. <\/p>\n
While many spent the day working, others gathered at the Nueces County Courthouse for an MLK forum reflecting on King\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n
Educator Dr. Nancy Vera said the holiday highlights a broader divide. \u201cThere are two types of people who live in the U.S.\u2014those that are able to take advantage of things and those that are not. Ironically, the people who are not off today are the ones Martin Luther King was advocating for,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Even decades after King\u2019s calls for equality, the day underscores that opportunity and necessity are not evenly distributed across the workforce.<\/p>\n
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