Well, it’s still January, so Happy New Year to you and I hope 2023 brings you all the necessary goodness and mercy that is needed for you and your loved ones.
Let’s get into this conversation: Why did I turn down multiple requests for our non-profit organization to participate in various Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parades.
To note, as much as I would love the “exposure,” let’s confirm, all exposure is not good exposure, and all exposure is not the best for you.
Let me ask you a question, have you sat down and watched or attended a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade? Now, I will admit, I love to see the youth shine with their talents as well as the community showcasing how civil rights has expanded their reach. Literally, everything else is just pomp and circumstance from various politicians, community-based organizations, and other individuals jockeying for position. When I say jockeying for position, I do mean attention. Now, is this a bad thing, not if this is what they want. My question is, does that thought process exemplify civil rights?
Before I go any further, let me define civil rights: “the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality (Oxford Languages Dictionary, 2023).”
Now, after honing in on the definition of “civil rights,” I want to share a little more of my viewpoint.
The parade should showcase THE COMMUNITY and how civil rights has benefited the city the parade is housed in. For instance, I’m watching the Los Angeles, California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade as I type this blog. In shock, I see Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff Department, and California Highway Patrol representing in mob style. I literally had to take a pause from typing because I was in dismay that groups that have behaved as terrorists in the Black community would want to march in this parade. When the news personality asked the Chief of the California Highway Patrol his thoughts about Dr. King and his legacy, he talked about Dr. King’s non-violent messaging and ended his statement with, “he was a very smart man.” At that moment, I had to pause my TV and ask my husband if he heard that nonsense.
Now, I am finishing this blog before the parade ends, but I can tell you that I’ve only seen ONE Black owned community-based business showcased on the local new station during the parade route. The showcase was short and sweet and there was zero promotion of how to contact the business to support them. Let us not forget, one of Dr. King’s biggest push was to abolish poverty in the Black community.
In a nutshell, although AHN Foundation is in the community and desires for more people to know about our services, I am not using a space that is for the community by the community to showcase us. There are other spaces, places, and time that we can use to promote our brand and reflect on our resources and the rich history of our ancestors. I hope other organizations do the same.
Peace and blessings!
Alicia