Martin Luther King Jr

What do you think about most on this day?

Whenever the third Monday of January rolls around, I watch as the numerous posts and events about achieving equality through peace make their rounds. And I am always disappointed by the lack of recognition for the role unrest and violence played during the time of King’s assassination. No, I’m NOT saying we should promote riots as a way to encourage change and I’m NOT saying we need to focus on brutality on MLK Jr’s celebratory day. But I do think we need to remember what happened so we can learn from the experience of others and not repeat the same mistakes. I know. Those are really high hopes and I’m often accused of being overly-optimistic but I think it’s necessary in order to institute change. How often do you achieve a goal higher than the one you set? If I aim ridiculously high and fall a bit short, I’ll still get farther than I would have gotten by trying to reach a short goal from the get-go.

MLK Jr, among MANY, MANY others, tried their best to make their voice heard while still playing by the rules set by those in power. Years of disregarded advocacy followed by MLK Jr’s assassination provoked outrage across the United States. It was only after a week of intense riots and thousands of arrests that the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was passed. When you consistently go out of your way to communicate in ways the receiving party demands only to have your words fall on deaf ears, wouldn’t you get frustrated and angry at some point too? We don’t need to have violence to make a space where everyone is celebrated and safe. We need to listen, believe, and be accountable.

Image obtained from: https://www.biography.com/activist/martin-luther-king-jr
Image credit: *Howard Sochurek/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images*

Is there anything else you think is important to remember not just on this day, but throughout the year?

Another thing I notice around this time of year is how many photographs from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s are black and white. It makes the events feel far away, removed from the problems of today. The Wizard of Oz released (with color) in 1939. The very first color photograph was taken in 1861 by James Clerk Maxwell. While the technology for color photography may not have been as widely available as it is today, it still existed and was plenty accessible for journalists documenting notable events. Plus, we have the technology to colorize black and white photos. I hope to see more color in documentation of monumental events. It seems like a small thing but it has a big impact.

I have 2 big take-aways from all of this. The first is to take people seriously even if their concerns are not part of YOUR experience. Believe in THEIR experience because they are the ones who have lived it. The second is to remember that many events of the past are not that distant from here and now. There are plenty of people who have lived our nation’s history that are still living in our world.