Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Bending the Arc towards Justice for All

    I have always found Martin Luther King, Jr.’s prediction, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” comforting. In the midst of confusion, overwhelm, and frustration with the pace of change, it has given me solace. When I wonder, over and over again, how long it will take to build the world I want to see, and that I want to live in - a world that takes care of people with respect and dignity - his words reassure me that my advocacy is not in vain, and that there is a vast community working towards this common vision alongside me. That we aren’t alone, and that love wins in the end.

    While moments of comfort and reassurance are key for changemakers, to take a breath and appreciate the hard work of making visions real, I’ve come to look at his words as a starting point, followed by activated questions, like “How does this arc bend? Who bends it?” What if we wait to be swept up in the swirl of history, believing in the inevitability of goodness? What is the role of vigilant and consistent effort, to build the future we want? As we’ve been shown how close we are to a very different future, these have become urgent questions for me.

    Simply put, if we want a more just world, one in which more vulnerable people are centered and supported to succeed and in which the playing field begins to equalize, we need to grasp the urgency of our own role and responsibility to bend that arc.

    In honor of MLK day, we asked our team at JBC to tell us how they honor this important day and compiled their thoughts into the list below. If you’re looking for ways to honor MLK, what he stood for, and do your part in this work, see our team’s commitments below for a few ideas:

    Julia Moreno, Senior Director of Operations: Admittedly, for many years I just utilized the holiday as a day of rest. Two years ago was the first time I thought that my reshares and posts to social media, though well-intended, felt a little more performative than I would have liked. Now I try to break up my responsibility on MLK day into three categories (1) displays, (2) learning, and (3) action/service. I also try to blend them in with things I am already doing. For the first piece, displays, I try to share only color photos of MLK jr. to dissolve the illusion that his life and death were not so distant and his mission is still being carried forward. For learning, I try to read or listen to a perspective I have not yet immersed myself in. Last year I listened to the audiobook of the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass. It was incredibly painful to hear but also necessary to continue my learning and add more fuel to my passion for justice. This year I will be choosing another book, probably with a more modern perspective. This also jumpstarts me into my learning and actions for Black History Month. Lastly, actions/service, this year I am going to be supporting Black-owned businesses, probably a restaurant.  

    Wangari Kamau, Senior Consultant: This day, Martin Luther King Day gets me thinking. How can I continue to educate myself? Become a revisionist in a positive way, based on verifiable research and data. To this end, I draw on a book I read, Adam Grant's Think Again, which gets me to question old assumptions and embrace new ideas and perspectives. For example, what was the role of Claudette Colvin before Rosa Parks? Why did it take so long for Tarana Burke to get credit for #metoo? How can I be an ally to groups that are also "othered", what privileges do I have that I can use? I love the Obama Administration example where women amplified each other at meetings to make sure they were heard.

    Robert Beaven, COO: What I have learned in history class about Martin Luther King is the bare minimum, with the majority of education around his “I have a dream” speech. While one of the most famous speeches of our time, there is so much more that Martin Luther King has done. On MLK day, I dedicate time to three pieces.

    Self. Time to self-educate on what I don’t know about Martin Luther King and the numerous areas that he was focused on within social justice.

    Surroundings. Taking time to make sure that my intentions (like posting or commenting) align to the impact.

    Systems. Look at ways where I can utilize my privilege to volunteer my time within my community and share my experiences with those that look like me.

    Martin Luther King Jr. day is a great time for everyone to reflect on how they are antiracist. My favorite learning was from a woman who said the following on one of our community calls: “When I die, if people look at my calendar and my checkbook, can they tell that I am an antiracist?” That is an action item for all of us, myself included.

    Adrienne Lawrence, Vice President: For me, Martin Luther King Jr. day is one of reflection. In addition to remembering the sacrifice Dr. King and many other courageous leaders made, I think about the importance of using our voices to continue to make change and to fight against inequities of all forms.

    Katie Livornese, Vice President: On this day, I am reminded of a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that changed my life: “Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the things that matter.” Equality matters, and we all should feel compelled to speak up when we see inequity. We have witnessed so much injustice over the last few years, and staying silent, even if we are uncomfortable, is not an option if we really want to live in an inclusive world. On MLK day, I will recommit to using my voice and privilege to have hard conversations with those who share my privilege so we can activate the allyship of others, and work towards a more equitable world. I'll also continue my own learning journey, so I can be a better advocate for those who need allies the most.

    Elfi Martinez, Vice President: Honoring the spirit of MLK day, and the great man himself, is an important civic responsibility of every American. Especially now, when the country feels broken and fractured, we can choose to serve our communities:

    “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

    - (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking before the Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1968.)

    We all can, and should, serve the communities we care about. On MLK Day, I’ll be doing that by working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives with internal advocates at several corporations. If you need inspiration on what to do, I love the suggestions and recommendations at DoSomething.Org.

    What will you do today that will #BendTheArc toward justice for all?

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