As many years as I’ve celebrated visionary and activist Martin Luther King Jr. Day in my lifetime, I’m almost ashamed to admit that never have I ever felt so deeply the need to actually do something more to commemorate the day. As a Black woman, I know the struggles my people and others face in this fight for racial healing and equality, trust me. But like so many others bogged down with the day-to-day grind — work, family, parenting, self-care, a global pandemic and trying to shake off 2020 — this holiday to celebrate the birth of a man who literally fought until his death for fairness and equality in our country (and for the world, really) has been whittled down to a long weekend in January. I’m that person who took vacations for years on this long weekend, in sunny Florida no less, and thought nothing of it.
I can clearly remember back to 1986 when the holiday became national, I was 15, and Stevie Wonder released a song, simply titled “Happy Birthday.” I was with my friends when it was announced and all of us were so excited that politicians and celebrities alike had campaigned and fought for the day to be recognized as a national holiday. They made it happen. It felt like the country was really coming together.
Now, I have a daughter who will be 15 this month and still, we need more healing than ever.
Just two years ago, thousands of people stormed the US Capitol in Washington, DC. As they charged the building as proud supporters of President Donald Trump — with a noose waiting in the street and zip-ties ready to hold members of Congress and senators as hostages, (or worse) — they also made it clear that they didn’t believe in liberty, justice, fairness, and equality for all.
In no way do I take for granted the life that I live and the freedoms that I have as an American, but as the decades go on, I can feel my freedom slipping away month by month and even day by day.
It is almost 60 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 'I Have Dream Speech' at the Capitol, and here we are.
While we're a few days away from President-elect Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021, we are just a few days after a siege of our Capitol took place. And to say people are afraid of what will happen next is an understatement. This cycle of hate needs to end and sharing “I Have A Dream” quotes on social media for the day just won’t cut it. Here are some things we all can do to take action and help the cause of racial equality.
1. Start with your inner circle.
Host a “Walk for Racial Healing” and invite as many people as possible to participate. Be sure to make your event friendly to people of all ages and abilities and follow CDC guidelines.
2. Do the work on your own.
Do the heart work and hard work that’s necessary to be a part of real change, so you can show up to learn and grow. Go deeper into MLK's speeches. There’s so much more to learn from his mission besides the famous “I Have A Dream” Speech given in 1963, five years before his assassination.
Take part in the National Day of Racial Healing event on January 17, 2023, and discuss how the topics relate to your locality.
Take in an MLK documentary or film. Education is power, and taking that power and doing something with it is imperative.
3. Get the kids involved.
Order age-appropriate books about MLK for the kids and read with them. Get creative with kids by making homemade racial healing signs and help them find a prominent place to post them.
Be sure to encourage spreading kindness daily. The smallest of gestures can brighten someone's day.
Look for local and national organizations that help you learn to talk to your children about racism and review their websites, and she where you can help in the community.
4. Don't be silent.
Show your support for racial healing on social media by using the hashtag #HowWeHeal. But go beyond performative displays of allyship. Set up an online fundraiser for organizations in your area that work towards racial healing, or share ones already in existence.
If MLK taught us anything it is that our voice matters. Use it, especially if you're in a position of privilege.
