Against the backdrop of 2021, let's get better at honoring Martin Luther King Jr's legacy.
Here are some ideas as to how:
Focus on racism. While this day is often used to promote service broadly, this is the time to focus squarely on the issue central to his work.
Don't think of this as one day, but as the beginning of a bigger commitment. Rather than focusing on one-time actions, we should strive to embody these intentions into who we are...all the time. The Giving Square Board is launching a 21 Day Racial Equity Habit Forming Challenge on Monday for this purpose. We encourage you to consider doing the challenge yourself or utilizing the embedded resources.
Start with the WHY rather than the HOW we mark this day. The more we connect ourselves and our families to WHY this day is important, the more we will see how we can be part of the solution. Listen to personal narratives about racism from the past and present. Read Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Share our own stories. Watch documentaries and movies. Look at the data. Talk about it.
Generate a working list of all the ways your family can, will, and has contributed to racial equity. Build on this list together. This helps everyone see the possibilities and validate each action - no matter the size.
“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”
- MLK Jr.