As I sit at my table writing this, I am without doubt of the examination and critique that is occurring on
this day; for whom it is dedicated to, and the occurrence of the day. The irony is not lost on the creative community, the religious community, the Black community, the immigrant community and families throughout these united states.
To be blunt, and expose the elephant in the room, how do we inaugurate Donald Trump on Dr. King’s federal holiday?
Timing is a lot. And many times the timing of two opposites crossing paths happen. The irony of the celebration of Dr. King with Trump’s second inauguration is timing smiling in the corners of the universe daring you to continue paying attention. Dr. King’s holiday is federally designated as the third Monday in January. The inauguration is federally scheduled for January 20th (or 21st depending on the day), every four years. This clash is not a new one, four years ago in 2020, the same occurrence happened; the biggest difference–Covid.
The irony: Dr. King stood for equality, civil rights, and economic equality. Trump has been convicted of paying hush money to a pornographic star, given tax credits to the ultra rich, and has verbally disrespected women, immigrant communities, and other countries, s—hole countries.
I could call this a disgrace, but this is America. A country founded on principles of truth, justice, and freedom, while relegating enslaved people as ⅗ in the Constitution. A country when finally emancipating
the enslaved people immediately put in Black Codes and segregation, in order to keep people separated by race, color, and historical standing. A country that ended segregation, yet practices policies of gentrification, hiring practices so disparaging things like Affirmative Action and the Rooney Rule needed to be erected.
Today I refrained from social media, the news, and other informational outlets. I did not want to partake in being American. Some of us will always recognize
Dr. King if there is a holiday or not. We do this through the work we do; by teaching, loving our neighbor, helping those less fortunate than us, fighting against oppression, and building community. These are the principles that Dr. King exemplified. And these principles can never be erased as long as the legacy remains.
The legacy is more than this day, or the “Dream” speech, the legacy is in the stories that people continue to tell offline, and untelevised. The stories that passed down generation to generation, like the one my mother told me. I will always remember when she told me stories of being in jail on Thanksgiving for protesting with Dr. King and eating turkey sandwiches, and singing spirituals and Civil Rights songs. This memory was usually given light on Thanksgiving morning when I would help her with the big meal. Legacy is passed down through the people.
To the writing communities, the immigrant communities, political cartoonist, artist, the Black community historians, bloggers, and those “welcome-back” tik-tok’ers: I have one simple request, Use Your Voice. No one knows what the next four years will hold, we have thoughts and theories, but the facts have yet to be placed. So write about Trump, write about Dr. King, write and draw, and paint, and tik-tok the irony of the day, of the time. For people, living history is now, the subject matter is on a platter for all to feast, so dig it.
And as you eat, please keep an ear open to listen to the one sitting next to you.
