11 Ways Brooklyn Can Help Keep Dr. King’s Dream Alive

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. affirmed over fifty years ago from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., “… we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check….This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

To this day, the check has yet to be cashed. Let’s look at some important stats since Dr. King’s speech.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce: the Real Median Household Income for Whites in 2014 was $60,256 and for Blacks – $35,398; 26.2% of the Black population live below the poverty level.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: the unemployment rate for White youth ages 16 to 19 was 15.7% and for Black youth – 31.8%.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless: African-Americans are disproportionately overrepresented in the homeless population. Blacks make up only 12.1% of the U.S. family population, but 38.8% of those homeless in 2010. In comparison, white families make up 65.8% of the population and were 28.6% of families in shelters.

According to the NAACP Criminal Justice Fact Sheet: African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites.

According to the Center for Disease Control: the average African-American male lives five years less than the average white American male.

According to Child Trends, a non-profit and research center: educational expectations are lower for black children, than they are for whites. Fewer black students graduate from high school (16 percent of blacks drop out compared with 8 percent of whites).

Yet some say, the unequal position of black people in America is not due to institutional racism in a system of white supremacy where white people are afraid of losing position and power. Many believe we live in a colorblind society with equal opportunity for all. They say, “didn’t we elect a black man as president here in the U.S.?”

Some have gone so far as to say, African Americans are given special privileges in the forms of quotas and affirmative action which is nothing less than – “reversed racism.” Still others say, all lives matter, not just “Black Lives Matter.” Don’t blame everything on slavery and racism. Yes, slavery was horrible, but that happened years ago. No one in my family ever owned a slave and we shouldn’t have to pay for the bad choices black people make. If Dr. King were alive today, what would he think and say about his American Dream?

After Dr. King’s murder in 1968, educator and anti- racism activist, Jane Elliott was determined to make a positive difference in the world. She is now internationally known for her “Blue eyes-Brown eyes” exercises and her no nonsense teaching style on the subjects of prejudice and racism.

Most recently, Elliott asked a serious question to a full room of workshop attendees. “I want every white person in this room; who would be happy to be treated as this society treats our citizens, our black citizens – if you as a white person, would be happy to receive the same treatment that our black citizens do in this society – please stand.”

Elliott asked the questions again, just to make sure everyone heard and understood it. Still – no one stood. She then boldly stated, “that says plainly that you know what’s happening! You know you don’t want it for you! I want to know why you’re so willing to accept it or allow it to happen to others?”
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Dr. King dreamt that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood. Less than five years after giving that speech, Dr. King was assassinated. He was murdered the night after a nonviolent struggle for economic justice where he told sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, “we’ve got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end.”

Here at OurBKSocial we pledge to continue Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision. Here are ten things we think he would want us to do in Brooklyn to keep his dream alive – so we can finally cash that check:

1) Realize we live in a borough where race matters; where gentrification has become a major focus. Brooklyn has not magically gotten better simply because hipsters have moved in. Brooklyn has changed, like all things do.

2) Have open and honest discussions, in diverse groups, on race, racism, and race relations. And have them often.

3) Strive to embrace the beauty in diversity of all our neighborhoods – color blindness is not the solution. Color is Awesome!

4) Take the Implicit Association Test created by Harvard professors to determine hidden biases and prejudices – it’s OK – we all have them.

5) Build affordable housing for working class people in Brooklyn – with the goal to significantly reduce its homeless population.

6) Build community – police relations and actively recruit diverse groups of people within each neighborhood of Brooklyn.

7) Invest big time in our children. In addition to pet supplies, storage spots, and cafes, create fun, educational, and safe places for kids.

8) As Brooklyn artist Rusty Zimmerman says, make it a goal to actively participate in community service opportunities specifically designed to foster community and awareness. Make it a choice to meet and listen to new neighbors that don’t look like you.

9) Large and small business owners must strategically and objectively look at who’s hired and who’s fired. Are your employees diverse? Are people of color only hired for low level service positions or are they represented at all levels of management. There are numerous qualified people of color under utilized – find them and make your business stronger and better.

10) Get to know your local politicians and work actively and positively with them to make this borough greater. (Brooklyn Borough President, U.S. State Senator, Congressperson, NYS Assembly Person and City Council Representative.

11) Spread Love – It’s the Brooklyn Way!