How to be an Anti-racist: Reflecting and Acting this MLK Jr. Day

In a speech at the National Cathedral in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, 

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Fifty-three years later, the fight for justice continues. 

In 2020, the fight for justice and equity took on a new sense of urgency, spurred by the brutal police killing of George Floyd on May 25. Despite a summer of protests and reckoning, during which businesses pledged to invest in equity and individuals committed to anti-racism work, the fight for equity has fallen out of the news. But the need for justice remains– as evidenced by a record number of federal executions in the past year. 

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let’s reflect on the progress that has been made and realize the work that remains. 

Checking in on Our Anti-Racism Work 

Martin Luther King Jr. himself was a masterful writer and reflector, and it’s critical that we continue to hold space for reflections about the current state of our society and where equity and justice fit into it. Dr.King Jr. rightly assessed that “the arc of the moral universe is long”– it is 2021 and we are still witnessing the challenges of racial violence and anti-blackness, as well as the pushback from white supremacists who must sense the tension in the “bend towards justice”. That bend has been catalyzed by Black Lives Matter protests, activists over generations, and a continued awareness of the injustices that have set the foundation of our society. That continued awareness is learned through self-work and reflection. It is not enough to simply know or be aware of injustice, because knowledge without action is disempowerment. 

The good news is that we can all uplift ourselves (and each other) out of a state of disempowerment by becoming dependable allies and anti-racists for the causes of racial equity and justice. In order to do so, though, it is critical that we start by reflecting on how we contribute to the fight for–or even against–justice. Recognizing the nature of our contributions (or lack thereof) to broader movements can help us readjust how we think, act and organize for the fights towards greater equity and justice. 

With all that in mind, I encourage you to join us in reflecting about our roles in the fight for justice by contemplating–and hopefully even writing down–responses to the following questions as they are applicable to you.

• How is the way I experience the world affected by white privilege? 
  • And, if I am someone who identifies as having this privilege, how do I use such privilege in a meaningful way that challenges racism and white supremacy?
• Do I have feelings of self-loathing or guilt that accompany the historical and current oppression caused by white supremacy and the race of people with whom I am associated? 
• What misconceptions have I held about the racialized experiences of others? 
  • What about those of myself? 
• Have I attempted having difficult conversations with family, friends, etc. that center racial equity and justice? 
  • How did those conversations go? How can I prepare for more in the future considering how I have handled them in the past? 
• Can I identify actions I have taken in the last month that either support or impede a greater movement towards racial equity and justice? 
• If I am able, have I set up recurring payments or made donations in support of a particular movement, or organization, that supports anti-racist initiaitves? 
• In the past month, have you made an effort to support black-owned businesses rather than large corporations? 
• In the past month, what kinds of literature, films, news, music, podcasts, etc. have I consumed? 
  • Who created them? Who is represensented in them? What racialized messages are they sending me? 
• How can I align my intentions to be an anti-racist and ally with my actions? 
• Once I am able to align myself with my values as they relate to racial equity and justice, how will I inspire others around me to do the same? 

Once you have had time to honestly contemplate (and hopefully write down) these reflection questions, we encourage you to assess your previous contributions, actions, and thoughts and think about how those may shape the future and affect the “bend” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so voraciously fought for. 

Doing the Work: Taking Anti-racist Action

As individuals, it is up to us to commit to the self-work necessary to maintain the momentum towards moral progress, especially as it relates to racial equity and justice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “injustice must be rooted out by strong, persistent and determined action.” By continuing honest reflections as one of our persistent actions, we are growing, learning, and pushing the needle forward to a future where we can live in more harmony with each other. 

I believe that harmony is possible, and I think Dr. King believed so too. He wrote the words “I have no despair about the future” as he sat in jail, so, surely many of us can continue to commit to racial equity and justice as we go about our daily lives (especially those of us with the privilege to turn away from the fight). 

Action starts with awareness. After reflecting, consider where you still need to learn and seek out resources that can help to fill the gaps in your understanding of racism, equity and justice. If you need somewhere to start, read Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Check out our list of books, documentaries and other resources here.

Engage in conversations with those in your life about racism and white supremacy. While these can be difficult to begin, it is important and worthwhile to engage with these topics in your immediate community, such as friends and family. Consider Tori’s guidance on having difficult conversations about injustice.

Advocate for equitable policies. Consider how racism and injustice interact with other humanitarian issues, such as climate change and poverty– these issues are deeply connected. Make anti-racism work a part of your overall activism.

As you do anti-racism work, return to the questions above and reflect regularly. How will you stay engaged in advocating for racial justice? Also, ask yourself, what actionable steps can you take today, tomorrow, or in the next week aside from personal reflections, self-education, and online engagement? If you are unsure about some actionable steps you can take, check out this article. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 92 years old today, but his legacy still breathes life into the very movements in which his generations catalyzed. It is in his words, although written long ago, we can find direction and hope.

Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.