Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
[This newsletter was written with the intention to support Black communities while also educating white and non-Black POC (NBPOC) people on the history of this day and actions they can take to be accomplices in liberation. As a predominantly white and non-Black POC (NBPOC) therapy center, G&STC stands in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement to "bring justice, healing, and freedom to Black people across the globe.".]
“If peace means a willingness to be exploited economically, dominated politically, humiliated and segregated, I don't want peace. If peace means being complacently adjusted to a deadening status quo, I don't want peace. If peace means keeping my mouth shut in the midst of injustice and evil, I don't want it. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the existence of justice for all people.”
— Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s "When Peace Becomes Obnoxious" speech
This year on Martin Luther King Day we urge you to not see this as another day off from work, but an invitation to explore how MLK’s work and activism impact the present day.
King dedicated his life to creating change for Black people and communities everywhere and his leadership paved the way for young Black activists today. As a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, King was an anti-racist organizer who broke down barriers. His work permeated through every action he took. His late wife Coretta Scott King has advocated for those who have a day off this Monday to volunteer within their community.
In honor of King’s volunteerism, this might be an opportunity to look up local organizations that are in need of clothing, food, or financial donations. An alternative route is to uplift mutual aid fundraising efforts by sharing them with friends and family. There are many ways in which we can care for and support one another through these particularly challenging times. MLK Day is honored as a day of service and beyond offering to volunteer for one day, use this as an invitation to better understand the needs of the communities you’re a member of and commit to ongoing support.
Much history of Black influential leaders in America has been white-washed or is only taught during Black History Month instead of truly investing in the knowledge imparted by people like King.
The legacy King left behind has deep value to our country, far beyond what mainstream media might focus on with his nonviolent action or visits to the White House. White people often use MLK Day to espouse nonviolent approaches to equality and justice, while ignoring the radical organizing that King committed his life to. This MLK Day, honor his legacy by expanding your knowledge of King’s work and inviting others to do the same.
He vehemently spoke out against the evils of capitalism, greed, and white supremacy. In his less publicized speeches, King would call out the complacency of middle-class white liberals, how America spends more on military than public education, and housing discrimination. The issues that he worked on still exist today and have only been exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 public health crisis. Exploring the true, unfiltered history of MLK has value to inform how our anti-racist organizing and movements can be shaped today.
There are many avenues to explore learning about racial and social justice.
You can watch webinars or read books. Dedicating time and energy into unlearning white supremacy is incredibly important for all white people to do. As a white person, being intentional about learning directly from Black creators is vital. Be sure to pay Black people for the knowledge they share and even tip them through digital payment platforms if they have that option on social media. Many BIPOC creators and authors have also dedicated their work to these topics to support BIPOC peers in connecting to their roots and lineage. Black folks may use MLK Day to spend time with loved ones, connecting to their lineage of Black resilience, or simply resting. Whatever your personal journey is, MLK Day may be an invitation to lean into that healing process.
Journal prompts for white and non-Black therapists:
How does anti-racism show up in your work?
What actions do you take to ensure your Black clients have a space to heal?
How do you talk about oppression and liberation with your co-workers?
How do you talk about oppression and liberation with your clients?
Are your current actions as a therapist aligned with anti-racist values? How so?
BLOG AUTHORS ALL HOLD POSITIONS AT THE GENDER & SEXUALITY THERAPY CENTER (G&STC). FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR THERAPISTS AND SERVICES PLEASE CONTACT US.