Statement about Martin Luther King
As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we must remember that he was, in fact, a radical.
The softened version of him as a passive, non-violent preacher that has been taught to us and that we have accepted, does a disservice to his true legacy, the impacts he made and the issues he fought for.
His character spanned the extremes; from being arrested nearly 30 times for civil disobedience (and fabricated charges) to being the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
When Dr. King was assassinated, he was fighting for economic justice for sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee.
Should we all strive to be of better service to others? Absolutely. Should we attend marches and parades in honor of his life? Without doubt. But we must also remember the Call to Action that was put before us.
Dr. King was unapologetically bold and brave in the face of the immense opposition and threats. He showed us how to speak up for what is right while putting ourselves at grave risk – because justice for the collective is always the point.
He taught us to hope.
He taught us to be tenacious and to hold the powerful accountable, especially when we are afraid.
He took hard stances early on against issues like the Vietnam War, that won him little support among most Americans.
He shined a light on oppression and injustice that provoked outrage in many of us; and outrage has the ability to solicit major change.
Change is what it’s all about. Social change. Economic change. Racial change.
He challenged the notion that one can simply pull themselves up by their bootstraps by pointing out the absurdity of that being possible without addressing the systemic racism that still exists today. Some folks don’t even have boots!
There is so much work still to be done. We are still confronted with the fierce urgency of now. Right Now!
Inequality and Injustice is rampant in our society and getting worse. We must come together to fight these injustices as a collective.
Dr. King reminded us that “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable”. We must be deliberate in our responses and in our actions. We must embrace resistance. We must always hold the powerful to account. We must do that together as a collective society, striving for a more just and loving existence. Future generations depend on us. And we are falling behind in this most crucial duty. Complacently simply won’t do. We must be loud. We must be bold. We must be brave.
We must be very clear about the world we want to live in – the world we want to leave our grandchildren and their children. Dr. King famously reminded us: The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.
We ask you this simple question: Are YOU doing enough?