Today as we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Brown Geeks reflect on his contributions and the impact he’s had on their lives.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. marching for racial equality. (Photo Credit: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center)
Kunal, Community Manager
Naturally, like so many I stand at awe when it comes to remembering the late Dr. King. His life, his actions, and his legacy gave a real gift to the country as the founding example of how we should, as Americans and god’s creatures, be treating each other with love and the feeling of being welcome. This day never really had any major impact on me other than remembering what peaceful actions can do to help change our country to be more unified and grand. We, as a nation, still have a long way to go, but it is because of people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr that people of color can rise in this country and reach the many dreams we have for ourselves.
Hina, Content Strategy for Brown Geeks
When I think of the impact that Martin Luther King Jr. had on the progression of the Civil Rights movement in the United States, I am reminded of Gandhi and the parallels between the two leaders: a non-violent strategy and strong convictions for a united people. Unfortunately, historical events led to the eventual separation of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. At this moment in time in America, it feels that we’re on the precipice of a separation as well.
As a Brown person living in America, I acknowledge my privilege of being a “token minority.” At the same time, I am also aware that the systems in place that disenfranchise Black people will impact me as well, regardless of the privileges I currently benefit from. If we continue to allow White supremacists to represent us in the Senate, House of Representatives, or worse—in the White House, we will remain divided. We all have to do the work to craft a better version of America because these past four years are a shameful representation of us as a people.
Heather, Deputy Editor of Brown Geeks
I grew up in a town where my distaste for racism was misplaced and not widely understood. I was surrounded by what one might refer to as rednecks. It was not an easy childhood for me because I would always call out the racism I saw. Very often, that meant I was going toe-to-toe with an adult who was never once able to explain to me to my satisfaction any reason that I should dislike or think I was better than a person of another race. I was a child, and it was completely nonsensical to me hate an entire group of people simply because they were different.
As an adult white woman, I do my best to position myself as an ally to people of color. With the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor I did not sit silent. As a result, I noticed a considerable decline in followers on social media. That does not matter to me, but it does say something about where we are in our growth as a nation. There is still so much work to be done to create equality for every race in this country.
When I was studying at NYU I was required to read Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the text has stuck with me ever since. It really made me think about the adversity people of color have faced in the not-so-distant past. I feel grateful and honored to be working at Brown Geeks where inclusivity and equality are of the utmost importance.
More on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Fight For Racial Equality
To learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. check out these resources:
- https://www.csuchico.edu/iege/_assets/documents/susi-letter-from-birmingham-jail.pdf
- https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/hidden-in-plain/
- https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/the-best-of-our-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-resources
- https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-resources/king-resources-overview
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/resources-martin-luther-king-jr-day-matt-davis
- https://www.learnersedge.com/blog/resources-to-celebrate-martin-luther-king-jr.-day
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/tag/martin-luther-king-jr/
