By Kevin P. Henry / For The Herald
On Jan. 20, the nation will honor and officially celebrate the birthday of civil rights icon the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Each year, many people in the United States recognize the immense impact that Dr. King’s message of racial unity and equality had on the nation, especially during the turbulent and often dangerous 1950s and 1960s.
Two events are scheduled in Everett that are open to the public. The “Sunday Celebration” will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20, the March & Rally will begin at Everett Memorial Stadium, 3900 Broadway, and end at the Carl Gibson Center in Everett. More information can be found at www.scbhcwa.org/.
These events are hosted by the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee and are the oldest MLK celebrations in Snohomish County. The theme of this two-part program is “Mission Possible,” which is fitting because our nation still has the task of fulfilling Dr. King’s mission. To that end, several community sponsors are involved, including Volunteers of America Western Washington and the NAACP Snohomish County.
Not everyone in the country, however, will react positively to the nation’s focus on the life and legacy of Dr. King. Some people view MLK Day as merely a day off, others will be indifferent, and still others will become irritated and bristle that it should not be a holiday. It is imperative, however, to remember that although Dr. King died nearly 60 years ago, his dream of racial equality, unity, and justice has not fully materialized in 2025. There is still much work to do to make that dream a reality.
Unquestionably, our nation has seen significant progress since the first enslaved Africans were brought to this country in chains in the early 1600s. Nevertheless, we still see and feel acts of racism, along with recoiling in horror at headlines about hate crimes. Many groups from different racial backgrounds are still negatively affected by systemic racism, health and economic disparities. Churches and synagogues have been attacked, and people have died. In November, Nazis spouting racial slurs and displaying swastikas marched down a downtown street in Columbus, Ohio (www.cbsnews.com/news/neo-nazi-march-columbus-ohio).
In contemporary times, a person’s skin color, religion and sexual orientation can still make them the target of harassment, hostility and hate. Dr. King may be gone, but his dream is alive, as are the issues that gave birth to his dream. Thus, our mission as a country is to find solutions — not avoid reality — and find healing. We take on this mission amid challenges as education systems and large U.S. companies are pushing back against DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives and other programs that focus on addressing inequities, bias and injustice.
In addition, there are efforts to water down historical facts that cast America in a negative light and eliminate opportunities to learn about history that have been deemed controversial, divisive, or disturbing. But I ask: How can the truth be divisive? These truths, however, rattle organizations such as the National Archives Museum (tinyurl.com/CurrentAffairsLongFight).
Heading into 2025 with a full head of steam
As a nation, we are heading into an uncertain future. In recent months, mental health counselors and social workers across the country have reported a rise in the number of individuals belonging to the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities who have reached out, expressing anxiety, fear and depression related to feeling an increased sense of vulnerability. These feelings have been intensified due to incidents of hostility and violence occurring in various places across the country.
Creating a brighter future
Americans of all backgrounds played a role in making history, and there is a strong thread between the past and the present. Now, it’s up to us to learn from the past and create a future that follows the clear path of justice laid out by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. more than 60 years ago. Today, buoyed by faith, determination, and optimism, our community can move forward with a clear vision of what we need to accomplish. Join us on Jan. 19 and 20 to create a brighter future together.
Perhaps, Dr. King said it best:
“If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Kevin P. Henry is the president of KPH Media LLC based in Seattle.
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