Yesterday was MLK Day, a nationally-recognized holiday to celebrate and honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’m not here to give you a history lesson. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of wonderful Black and brown educators, activists, speakers, writers, and creators [such as @ashanimfukoofficial, @ckyourprivilege, @blairimani, @luvvie, @laylafsaad, @ibramxk, @itskimberlyrenee, @yabablay, @berniceaking, and @aclu_nationwide, to name just 10 off the top of my head] who are more qualified to teach you about Dr. King. But I will say this: MLK was more than just the man behind the famous, “I Have A Dream” speech, and his message wasn’t just to get along; it was a plea to take action.
For some of you, this post is already rubbing you the wrong way and you’ll probably stop reading now. That’s fine. Well, actually it’s not, but I can’t force you to read, nor can I change your mind if you’re not open.
The rest of you are probably thinking that I’m preaching to the choir. You’re probably right, but even choirs needs to practice to get better, so I think this is worth repeating:
We (white people) need to keep standing up and speaking out. We need keep educating ourselves and putting in the work. We need to challenge our old beliefs and question where they came from. We need to continue elevating Black and brown voices and not just invite them to the table, but give them the head seat (and the microphone). We need to listen more and acknowledge others’ lived experiences. We need to be more compassionate and empathetic. We need to become accomplices, not just allies. We need to act.
My reasons are personal. My husband is Black, my sons are biracial (although seen as Black), and my extended family is comprised of different races, cultures, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations. I see first-hand how the world treats my loved ones differently than me — a white, cisgender, upper(?)-middle-class woman. But it shouldn’t need to be personal.
The bottom line is this: Don’t just say you’re not a racist — be an active antiracist. Use your white privilege to end white privilege. Not everyone has to be on the front lines, but everyone needs to get off the sidelines. Everyone.
Don’t agree? You’re entitled to your opinion, but you might want to unfollow because I said what I said (unapologetically) — and I’ll keep saying it until things change.
-LJDT
