By Freda Freeman
Correspondent
Many see the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, erode voting rights, and erase Black history in schools as setbacks to the gains made during the Civil Rights Movement. Economic reports show that African Americans are losing ground when it comes to jobs, housing, education and mental health services.
Was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and subsequent death all for nothing? Almost 58 years after King’s assassination, is his message of equal rights for all still relevant today?
Denise Hester, co-owner of M & M Real Estate Development and Consulting in Durham, said King’s message is as relevant today as it was in the 1950s and ‘60s. “It was a message for humanity, wherever you fall on the spectrum of humanity, meaning race, gender, income, circumstance,” she said. “King’s words are universal, and they apply to everybody who is suffering under some type of injustice. His message is even more important, and we need to put it to work in our own lives and continue to struggle for justice, particularly when injustice is so rampant.”
Hester said King’s sacrifice should not be relegated to the past. “I think, as time passes and the farther we are removed from Dr. King’s life and assassination, you have to remember that he gave his life for the struggle of justice. How many of us are willing to do that? Before you dismiss him and say that was then, this is now, ask how many of us are willing to go down like that for what we believe in. With that in mind, I think he’s a champion for justice still today,” she said.
Raleigh activist Octavia Rainey said, “During the period of Dr. Martin Luther King, we didn’t have any rights. Dr. King and others who worked with him realized this and went to work to get us our voter’s rights, housing rights and civil rights. He led the charge, along with others, for our rights so that one day we’d be in a position to move forward.
“We have to carry on the torch, and that’s our problem, we are not carrying on the torch. On Jan. 19, you have all kind of marches, all kind of sermons, all across the state, but after the 19th, it’s shut down. I’m disappointed we only look at one day to bring awareness, then we go back home.”
Dionne Selby, owner and founder of the Black Chamber of Raleigh, added: “I don’t think Dr. King died in vain. I do think the Trump administration has opened our eyes, or should have, to a lot of things that are being exposed as far as racist systems that have been used to oppress us. I also think it has exposed the ignorance in our own community – individuals that support Trump because you even hear a lot of Black people say that DEI was not necessary. We know that we are not fairly given the opportunity in these spaces. This just puts so much more emphasis on the work that we have to do and now so much of the work that we are going to have to redo.”
Raleigh historian and author Carmen Cauthen said one way for African Americans to move ahead is by voting in local elections: city council, county commission and boards of education. Cauthen said it is crucial that Black people know their history and exercise their right to vote to put people in office who represent their interests.
“I can’t blame just white folk for Trump being elected. There has been a long period of time where we have not taught our history to our own people, to our young folks, and they have not seen the value of voting; it wasn’t ingrained in them. It was ingrained in me that voting wasn’t a choice. As long as people don’t understand the risk they take by not following through on their choices, we will have these things,” she said.
