Revisiting his powerful message, we can see that Rev. Dr. MLK called on us to step beyond acts of service, and to challenge and question the norms we live in, to disrupt the injustices we witness, and to revolutionize our values. As we consider how outdoor recreation and conservation has been built for and dominated by whiteness and wealth, let us be “more devoted to justice than order”, and let us stand together in this challenge.
In closing, we offer a few of his words for reflection this week (edited for gender inclusion):
“The ultimate measure of a [person] is not where [they] stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where [they] stand at times of challenge and controversy.” (Strength to Love, 1963)
“An individual has not started living until [they] can rise above the narrow confines of [their] individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” (Birth of a New Age, 1956)
“It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace.” (From a speech in California, 1967)
1/18/2023
by Michaela Fishback