“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
This past weekend, I read about supervisors at a General Motors plant who had been subjected to racist actions, including a noose being hung in a public space in their work areas. I read about a young girl who had been told that the color of her skin was too dark and clashed with her school’s dance team uniforms. I also read about the young high school students who were being taunted on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. by members of a Hebrew Israelite church in D.C., which resulted in the harassment of a Native American Vietnam War veteran in his attempt to diffuse the standoff that was ensuing between the two groups. I even read the comments of a Roman Catholic priest decrying the hordes of immigrants who make their way to our country.
My initial feelings about these events was concern for what seems to be a regression from previously established norms of social civility, tolerance, and acceptance of the diversity which makes up our American society. That concern became anger. Anger that my previous thoughts about race relations in our country had been settled during the civil rights movements in the 1960’s and continued improvements in the decades since, was in fact a false narrative. Anger, frustration, and concern thinking about what kind of world my kids would be growing up into, what challenges they would face growing up as Hispanic Americans. Anger at our political leaders, the abdication of our President as a unifier for our country, and the divisive rhetoric coming from members of both parties. Anger at corporations who place an emphasis on maintaining competitive advantages over the welfare of their workforces.
I know better though. Anger is not enough. Yet it will serve as my catalyst to achieve accountability. Accountability to achieve the social justice which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked so tirelessly for during his lifetime. Accountability to achieve fairness and equality in the workplace. Accountability to ensure that I don’t take for granted the work yet to be done to create the world which Dr. King dreamed about.