On Monday, we observed the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as we do every year. On this day, it is also common that we hear people reciting the most popular quotes by Dr. King or posting memes of these quotes on social media. And then the next day, we tuck our quotes away to be pulled out again on the next MLK Day. I love reading the MLK quotes and hearing snippets of his speeches to remind us of his message and his legacy, but what are we doing the 360-some days before the next holiday? How are we fulfilling MLK’s legacy?
Some of the most frequently quoted words from Dr. King are those that make us feel good, the warm and fuzzy ones, the ones that are safe…
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
And every now and then, someone throws in a slightly more “edgy” quote like, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” But my question is, what are we DOING about the injustice? What are we DOING for others? What are we DOING that is right? What are we DOING to spread love? Where is the action behind these quotes that we regurgitate every year?
Don’t get me wrong, these quotes are good, and I enjoy being reminded of them every year, but we are doing ourselves a disservice by focusing on only one aspect of Dr. King, by not taking those words and doing what he called us to do. His words and actions can teach us a lot about what it means to be a social justice advocate/activist.
I urge you to study more about Dr. King and read some of his words that aren’t as popular. Then I encourage you to do something. Dr. King spoke out against injustice and racial inequality. We are still experiencing those very injustices and inequities today (some overt and some systemic), but the voices are not as loud speaking out against them…and the actions are not as big. What will you do on the days in between this MLK Day and the next to fulfill the legacy of Dr. King?
What will you do on the days in between this MLK Day and the next to fulfill the legacy of Dr. King? Click To TweetYour actions can start out small, and lead to big changes. I encourage you to find a local organization to give of your time to serve those who are in need. I encourage you to write to your representative in Congress about laws that you feel are unjust and unequal and urge them to change. Look at the structures in place where you work or live that are not fair for all, and work to change them. Learn about those who are different from you – look at “who’s in your world” and diversify your circle. Does everyone look like you? You can’t help your cultural others if you don’t even know who they are.
The Winters Group’s Commitment to Live Inclusively has many actions you can take to fulfill the legacy of Dr. King. One such example is, “I commit to speaking up and speaking out, even when I am not directly impacted, for there is no such thing as neutrality in the quest for equity, justice, and inclusion.” I encourage you to not boil down Dr. King’s legacy to a few words that you post once a year, but to put action behind those words.
I encourage you to not boil down Dr. King’s legacy to a few words that you post once a year, but to put action behind those words. Click To Tweet
