To really honor King, who lost his life nearly 54 years ago fighting for an America whose actions often belie its promise, we owe it to him to keep his message with us 365 days a year, not just the day of the national holiday in his honor.
Corporations and governments need to do more than host annual community service projects, they need to drive investment into communities that need it most— where generations have suffered from systemic failures.
-
Infrastructure decisions that split communities.
-
Urban public school systems, without the same funding, materials, labs, and yes, opportunities, given students in more affluent areas.
-
A disinvestment in public higher education like the City University of New York that has long offered a lifeline of opportunity for first-generation students.
-
A lack of needed investment in mass transit that serves as the lifeblood and great equalizer for so many who live and work in urban areas.
-
A healthcare system that COVID-19 proved once again lacks the same accessibility for all.
-
Racist housing policies.
The list goes on. There’s no doubt there has been progress since King delivered his 1963 March on Washington speech. But the problems of systemic racism and a lack of opportunity still exist, and for too many are still the norm. It’s important to honor Martin Luther King and his legacy for a day every year. But it’s imperative his spirit guide us throughout the year.
That means corporations and governments deploying capital more equitably, whether it’s providing good-paying jobs, suitable housing, or accessible mass transit. It means actually listening to the communities that have been most impacted. It means actually making them partners.
Martin Luther King, Jr. left a legacy of activism and hope. It’s time to end token gestures. It’s time for a transformational realization of his dream.