January 15, 2022
MLK Day 2022
We are now two weeks into 2022 and winter quarter, and for many, this long weekend is a much-needed rest from the exhaustion of attending school or work amidst this latest round of COVID uncertainty. As we take some time to rest and recharge, it’s important to understand why we have Monday off next week, and, if we have a little energy left, to take action to advance racial equity and justice where we live.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or MLK Day, is a US holiday that commemorates the birthday of possibly the most famous Black civil rights activist in the US. In the decades since his assassination, King’s words, actions, and legacy have been whitewashed, sanitized, and misappropriated. Today, King is widely celebrated by US Americans across the political spectrum as a respectable, pacifistic, and moderate religious leader who spoke eloquently against racism. However, King was a much more radical individual, outspoken in his arguments against systemic racism, economic inequality, imperialism, and white supremacy.
His “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” lays out many of his views that caused him to be labeled as an extremist then—and would likely cause him to be labeled as an extremist now. These views included his support of nonviolent direct action and disobeying “unjust laws” as well as his frustration with the “white moderates” who told Black folks to wait for change, supported the police for maintaining order, and in general attempted to remain “neutral” above all else. Throughout the years of his activism, the FBI was actively surveilling him, and there is still controversy as to whether or not the US federal government was somehow involved in his murder.
In the present, people across the United States have many different ways of honoring King’s legacy on MLK Day. It is a national day of service, and many people spend the day supporting local non-profits and doing community service projects. Take time for personal reflection and education, learning how systemic racism and other systems of oppression currently affect members of their community and finding ways to support equity and social justice. Some spend the day in celebration with family and friends. Some spend this Monday as a day of action, contacting elected officials or participating in demonstrations against unjust systems.
The University of Washington has helpfully put together this page with links to campus and community events in honor of MLK Day. For those in Seattle, the annual MLK Day Rally and March that starts at Garfield High School is a great event for folks of all ages and backgrounds to attend. For 40 years now, the Seattle MLK Jr Organizing Coalition has organized the rally and march “to tell our civic leaders that Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is alive and well”. For folks wondering how to support their communities at a time when many are still struggling to meet their basic needs, consider supporting a local mutual aid group (such as South King County & Eastside Mutual Aid).
However you spend MLK Day this year, we encourage everyone to reflect on the broad and complex truth of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work and legacy and to find a way to support and uplift the people in your community.