M.L.K. Jr. :
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking at the Civil Rights March on Washington, Aug. 28, 1963. Public domain photo taken from the National Archives and Records Administration.
You probably know that Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader in the civil rights movement. The important activist and his group of anti-racists, like John Lewis, helped end segregation. But did you know that Malcolm X had the opposite approach? Martin Luther King wanted to have peace and non-violence, and Malcolm X believed that it was necessary to fight. Malcolm X talked about Black Power, and how Black people should provide things to the Black community. Part of that was giving people food. And part of it was protecting themselves from violent groups doing bad things, like the Ku Klux Klan burning crosses in front of people's houses.
This painting by Emma Amos called "Your Choice" is showing M.L.K. Jr. and Malcolm X side by side, one's upside down and one is right side up. It says: "Your Choice." Amos is asking what kind of anti-racism you want to do: Black Power or non-violence. How about you? What do you want to do?
Painting by: Emma Amos. Photo taken by: Olga Livshin
Three Anti-racist Things to Try during the Pandemic:
The COVID pandemic keeps going (and with Omicron here, it's even worse). But anti-racist work is a thing you can anywhere, even at home.
1.) Donate to NAACP
You're probably saying: "Wait a minute! Two A's? What is this thing?!". Well, the NAACP stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. They are a group of lawyers that helps people who had racist experiences. Then, they defend their rights. Pretty cool, right? There's more! They started in 1909 and helped end segregation. Nowadays, people's voting rights in the south are not equal. So the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is helping voting rights be equal again. Now, of course, It's not everywhere. But we should ensure the right to vote. You can donate at https://naacp.org/. Ask your family for a Christmas or Hanukkah gift -- for them to donate to NAACP.
2.) If you see a person being racist to another person, like at school or on a bus to school, tell them to back off and make the person who was being yelled at feel secure. If it is violent, film it with your phone or your parents' phone. This could be used against the person who was being dangerous and shows proof to the police. Finally, if things are really bad, go find others so that they can see what's going on, and seek help.
3.) Even though we're at home a lot, we can still "get outside" with our thinking -- and our reading. What can you read to make you an Anti-Racist? If you have no clue, then look at the list here, or go to the library and get some ideas.
Title: Grandmama's Pride by Becky Birtha
Grade Level: Preschool through third grade
Length: picture book
A family is visiting Birmingham (which is in the South) and sees the sad life of segregation. Bathrooms, ice-cream shops, and even water fountains are segregated! At the end, the main character can now go to any bathroom they want.
Title: The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Grade Level: third grade through seventh grade
Genre: Novel
It's winter up in Flint, Michigan. Which means unlivable cold at -20 degrees Fahrenheit. And Byron Watson is as dangerous as a bomb. So it's time to go to Birmingham! Staying there will show him what segregated life is like. Will Byron change his childish ways or will he stay the same?
also there is a video version:
please like and subscribe for more videos about Anti-Racism