January 15th was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s actual birthday. His renowned life, legacy, dedication, and passion for ending racism continue to mean so much to People of Color (POC). MLK was the original influencer of the civil rights movement that still impacts our present. Today, our lives are built on the dreams he embodied and shared with the world. His vision and dedication provided profound meaning to our everyday lives.
In 1963, MLK expressed his dream when he stated, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
But people are still being denied opportunities based on the color of their skin.
We are a nation divided almost sixty years later. This divide is more disappointing today than in the 1960s because we elected our nation’s first Black President and the first BIPOC female Vice President. Despite these significant changes, we still have extraordinary difficulties to overcome as a nation. Communities of color continue to fight for economic and civil rights that Dr. King worked tirelessly to create.
Which leads us to the burning question: Where do we go from here?
Coincidentally, this happened to be the thesis of Dr. King’s final book penned before his assassination in 1968, entitled, ‘Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?’ He raises this question that’s still pertinent to today’s society. He states that we must stand together against the chaos and redefine actual change as a nation together. Until we delve into the systemic inequalities that prevail, we will not have much progress.
Redefine change from how things ARE to how things should BE.
Dr. King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” His message does not just serve us for from the past but, for all times. Today we honor and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy, life, and immense contribution to the United States and humankind.
ysp Digital will continue to pave the way for diversity and representation of BIPOC content creators. We hope you will join our mission to support People of Color and their aspirations to achieve great things in digital media.
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