Simply Superior

Air Date:
Heard On Simply Superior
Young spoken word artists Suicide Minds perform in Duluth, Wisc.
Young spoken word artists Suicide Minds perform next to a larger-than-life papier-mâché likeness of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the official Twin Ports Martin Luther King Day celebration at the DECC in Duluth in 2011. Photos courtesy Doug Bowen-Bailey, Digiterp.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Yet four decades later, many school districts around the country, including several in Northwest Wisconsin, neither grant students or staff the day off nor mark the birth of the slain civil rights leader with any commemoration. “Simply Superior” host Robin Washington speaks with officials from local districts that will mark this year’s holiday on Jan. 16 as well as those that won’t, and gives a rundown of each.

Also, for years the Twin Ports’ official observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a showcase for local arts and culture, with performances and speeches by youth and adults from all walks of life. Washington presents a montage of area celebrations from years past, including a portion of his own keynote address for Duluth’s commemoration in 2011.

Wisconsin School Districts 2023

District

Status

Amery

Open

Ashland

Open

Barron Area

Open

Bayfield

Close

BIrchwood

Open

Bruce

Open

Butternut

Closed

Cameron

Open

Chequamegon

Closed

Chetek-Weyerhaeuser

Open

Clayton

Open

Clear Lake

Open

Cumberland

Open

Drummond

Open

Flambeau

Open

Frederic

Closed

Grantsburg

Open

Hayward

Open

Hurley

Closed

Ladysmith

Open

Luck

Open

Maple

Closed

Mellen

Open

Mercer

Closed

Northwood

Closed

Osceola

Closed

Phillips

Open

Prairie Farm

Open

Prentice

Open

Rice Lake

Open

Shell Lake

Open

Siren

Closed

Solon Springs

Open

South Shore

Open

Spooner

Open

St. Croix Falls

Closed

Superior

Closed

Turtle Lake

Open

Unity

Closed

Waadookodaading was publicly chartered by the Hayward Community School District

Closed

Washburn

Open

Webster

Open

Winter

Open

WOLI/Akii’gikinoo’amaading Environmental School

Closed

Open

14

Closed

29

Total

43

Episode Credits

  • Robin Washington Host
  • Robin Washington Producer
  • Ezra Wall Producer
  • Kate Spranger Producer
  • Sara Croney Guest
  • David Aslyn Guest
  • Frank Helquist Guest
  • Natasha Lancour Guest