CANCEL MLK DAY?

MLK Day is a national holiday that was created to honor the legacy of the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a brilliant man, an inspiring leader, and a champion of non-violent resistance. His work has been instrumental to the progress of civil rights in the United States and around the world.

Unfortunately, MLK Day has at times become unduly commercialized and performative, with some businesses and influencers using it as an opportunity to signal their support for civil rights without actually taking any meaningful action. We must remember that Dr. King was a man of action. He fought for justice and equality in tangible ways, and we should honor his legacy by doing the same. 

Dr. King wanted all youth to thrive.  At Youth Era, we believe we must honor Dr. King's legacy by showing up and doing the work.

The answer is not to cancel MLK Day but instead to use this time to create opportunities to move his mission forward. That means having uncomfortable conversations, being vulnerable and including communities that have been historically marginalized. We must use MLK Day to inspire us to be the change -every day- that Dr. King envisioned. This means investing in those with different views, having patience for each other and resisting the urge to shame or attack. These divisions will only hinder the dream of one of our greatest leaders and more importantly, hinder progress towards the end of racism and inequality.

Youth Era stands with the Black community. We stand with our Black team members and the Black youth we support who are experiencing a level of grief, anger, and fear that is unimaginable. The historical and still current effects of racism pose physical and psychological harm to Black youth and their families. As a youth peer support organization, we believe that all mental health services must be equity-centered. A commitment to racial justice not only means identifying and eliminating  racism in all of its various forms, but also creating communities of resources that allow Black young people to feel supported and thrive. 

MLK would accept nothing less.