Thoughts on MLK Jr. Day

Jan 15 is civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Today we celebrate the unfinished work of the reverend and recognize the many mentors, mentee families and community partners working to see racial justice lifted up in a marginalized world. Much progress has been made, yet we groan that there is still great injustice and inequity that continues to plague our nation and our neighborhoods.

We recently challenged our mentors to send a photo of them and their mentee doing an activity that focuses on the spirit behind MLK Jr’s justice work. James took on the challenge and responded with a story that comes from a recent painting session:

“My mentee and I have been family from the day we first met in October. After our initial meeting, I had *Marvel come over so I could show him how to cook and paint. What we were doing that day ties into the work and spirit of Martin Luther King Jr…

Whether there was a difference in our age, race or religion, we were brothers from the very get go. This is a vision that MLK Jr. had hoped for: to disregard barriers that would keep us apart, and appreciate our similarities and work together.

The painting experience also connects with MLK Jr.’s example of having a vision, then going out and creating a reality. Even if the results were not what we expected, or as pretty as we hoped, we simply worked together with the common goal in mind: painting dragons.

It may be argued that these paintings look nothing like dragons lol. But the important piece wasn’t the end goal… it was the process which was to enjoy each other’s company, and crafting mistakes into art still.

Our processes weren’t perfect, and we both are not the best artists, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to accomplish something together.”