2024 Martin Luther King Jr Supplement

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Beyond the Dream, A Call to Action to Wake Up

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Austin Cooper, Our House Editor Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation REPORTERS Kayla Benjamin, (Environmental Justice Reporter) Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson

While many people remember him for his famous “dream,” of a better nation discussed in his 1963 March on Washington Speech,” I couldn’t help but wonder, if in 2024, would the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. think beyond the dream? In a world with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, extreme hunger, poverty and violence in the U.S. and abroad, continued systemic racism, and economic and environmental injustice at play, might he stop sharing his idealized imaginations of a more equitable nation?

Would he declare that he wants us to stop dreaming, wake up, and pull down the comforter that warms this centuries-long nightmare of oppression– the fabric with which this country is sewn?

In 1965, more than a year-and-a-half after his celebrated “I Have a Dream,” speech, King said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Not even two years after his address on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, King is using a bit less flowery language than his often-quoted vision of “little Black boys and girls,” and “little white boys and girls,” walking hand-in-hand.

Even after having a Black U.S. president for eight years, there’s been an affront to justices for which King valiantly fought, such as voting rights and equal educational opportunities. Further, I question would King be okay with revoking women’s right to choose and stifling laws targeting the LGBTQ community? Would he turn a blind eye to the thousands who have died in Palestine?

The great orator and activist, who was quoted as saying “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” would certainly acknowledge the challenges in this nation and abroad.

King also famously said: "The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” With such a stance, I think it’s safe to say that if King had lived to turn 95 in January 2024, he would have been anything but silent or detached from the issues.

When I learned the 2024 MLK Holiday DC theme, “Bending Towards Peace, Truth and Justice,” I offered a question to Washington Informer reporters and the community. “What would King do to bend toward peace, truth and justice?”

King had influence from pulpits nationwide, to local activists working to make a difference in their towns, and the White House. Considering this prompt, Informer reporters took to the street to ask “WWKD? What would King do?”

With reflections from pastors, community activists, environmental justice fighters, students, and more, The Washington Informer 2024 supplement remembering King, not only highlights the leader’s life and legacy, but promotes his passion for peace, truth and justice.

In a world where peace, truth and justice seem but a mere dream, I encourage you to consider, “What would King do to bend toward these goals?.” Then, don’t simply think or dream about it, wake up, take action and find ways you can contribute to the fight for true liberty and justice for all.

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5 Pastors such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. William Lamar of Metropolitan AME in Northwest, D.C., reflected on King’s stance today. (Courtesy Photo)

What Would King Preach Today?

By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer On April 4, 1967, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King came to Riverside Church in New York City and unleashed a scorching rebuke on those ministers who refused to speak out against the war in Vietnam.

“A time comes when silence is betrayal…that time has come for us in relation to Vietnam,” King said. One year to the date of this speech in New York, MLK was assassinated, with some speculation that his stance on the Vietnam War led to his demise.

Decades after King’s prophetic call for people to go against the war, many pastors say challenging current wars and conflicts today is exactly what King would be preaching about in 2024.

“We can never use this as just another year,” the Rev. Jesse Jackson told The Washington Informer. “He would preach about the battle in the Middle East.”

“He would be against Hamas using the Palestinians as shields, but we-in the U.S. governmenthave given them the green light to have a needle in the haystack diplomacy. They have killed 28,000 people.”

Jackson also said that King would preach about freedom for all men.

“He would say that we have gone from slavery to freedom. We have been free for 161 years, but

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we need everyone to be set free.

The troops should escort the captors under UN command. Let all go free. I want Justice at home and peace abroad,” the celebrated civil rights leader explained. “He would be speaking to issues like the war in the Middle East and the Ukraine and how do we close the gap to ensure the protection of our Democracy. He also would be lifting the need to vote now more than ever.

The Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia also considered King’s stance on Vietnam when imagining how he’d approach speaking of issues today from the pulpit.

“When Dr. King was alive, the critical issue when he spoke was Vietnam. Today, he would be talking about the war on the Gaza Strip, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and what is taking place in Haiti. He also would say that in the first three weeks of January there have been three mass shootings,’ Bryant told The Informer.

Regarding politics, Bryant said “Dr. King would say Biden and Trump are not on the ballot in November. What is on the ballot is employment, health care, and our seniors.”

The Rev George Gilbert Jr., assistant pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in the District, said, “Dr. King would be speaking against poverty and when you have poverty you have

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Honoring MLK: The Unfinished Journey Towards Economic Freedom

By Charlene Crowell This January 15, our nation again will observe the only national holiday designated as a day of service. The Martin Luther King, Jr. federal was first observed in 1986. But it took another 17 years for all 50 states to recognize the holiday, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.

While Rev. King dedicated his

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life to the pursuit of freedom, peace, and justice for all Americans, too many economically marginalized people are reduced to fighting over scraps while others enjoy the nation’s economic bounty.

In 2022, 37.9 million people – 11.5 percent of the nation – lived in poverty, according to the Census Bureau. Additionally, Black individuals made up 20.1% of the population in poverty in 2022 but only 13.5 percent of the to-

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tal population. Black individuals made up 20.1% of the population in poverty in 2022 but only 13.5 percent of the total population, according to the Census Bureau.

The federal minimum wage, currently at $7.25 an hour, has not increased since July 2009, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Standards.

And despite increases that take effect in many states in 2024, workers still earn only $7.25 per hour in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

On December 10, 1964, Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee presented its Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. King saying in part, “[D]iscrimination will still persist in the economic field and in social intercourse. Realistic as he is, Martin Luther King knows this.”

Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, Dr. King said, “I am mindful that debilitating and grinding poverty afflicts my people and chains them to the lowest rung of the economic ladder.”

“The tortuous road which has led from Montgomery, Alabama to Oslo bears witness to this truth,” Dr. King continued. “This is a road over which millions of Negroes are travelling to find a new sense of dignity… I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and

dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up.”

“This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future,” added Dr. King. “It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom…Today I come to Oslo as a trustee, inspired and with renewed dedication to humanity. I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally.”

Dr. King would urge Americans to remain vigilant and vocal in fighting attacks against diversity, equity, and inclusion.

A true tribute to Dr. King would be a renewed groundswell of advocacy that ensures our march towards full freedom refuses to go back; but instead moves forward in the same determination of his life’s work. Social equity cannot be sustained without economic parity.

As a people and as a nation, let us confront these and other challenges in his memory.

Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org

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WHAT WOULD KING DO TO ADDRESS TODAY’S WARS, POLITICS?

Prominent Civil Rights Leaders Share Insights on King’s Perspective on Middle East, Ukraine, Trump

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

During his short life, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped on all kinds of powerful toes in his fight for civil rights. King, assassinated at 39, was a courageous and determined leader who refused to let prison or violence sway his end mission. He also never lost sight of the fact that civil rights — addressing racial and economic injustice — were inextricable from peace.

As the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), King led a nonviolent movement to abolish the triple evils crippling American society: racism, poverty, and militarism. Associates said he believed those forces were contrary to God’s will for humanity and that they could only be opposed by a religious vision of nonviolent social change.

In April of 1967, King spoke publicly against the war in Vietnam. Today,

as the nation observes a federal holiday in King’s name, civil rights activists, including those who knew the slain leader, offered their thoughts on what his position might be on conflicts in the Middle East and Russia, and the state of the U.S. today.

Legendary civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson said the conflict between Israel and Palestine and Russia and Ukraine would have stirred King to declare that there was little difference from the demand for civil rights and the cry for peace. “[Israel’s Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu is on the wrong side of history,” Jackson told The Informer.

“What led up to Oct. 7 (when Hamas attacked Israel) is the issue, not what happened on Oct. 7.”

Jackson decried the mass killings taking place in the Middle East and the war strategy occurring in Ukraine— adding King would have felt similarly.

“Those captured,” Jackson demand-

ed, “should be allowed to go home under the supervision of the United Nations and anyone tried should be done so in the World Court.”

The Rev. Mark Thompson, a civil rights leader who recently joined the National Newspaper Publishers Association as the organization’s global digital transformation director, noted King’s strong stance against war and racism.

“There’s no question King would oppose the war in Ukraine and seek diplomatic solutions,” Thompson said.

“I believe he would also call for a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Thompson added the reason for King’s cancellation of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1967 – one year before his assassination – suggests King had an evolving posture on the Israel-Palestine question.

“In canceling the pilgrimage during the Six-Day War, King said, ‘I just think that if I go, the Arab world, and

5 The Rev. Jesse Jackson (Courtesy Photo)

5 The Rev. Mark Thompson (Courtesy Photo)

of course African and Asia for that matter, would interpret this as endorsing everything that Israel has done, and I do have questions of doubt,’” Thompson explained.

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., an alum of the SCLC alum, concurred.

“Dr. King was a nonviolent freedom fighter who believed that we all are members of one humanity. His concept of the ‘beloved community’ was all-inclusive and not discriminatory to anyone,” Chavis insisted. “Today’s world realities of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, oppression, war, hatred,

5 Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (Courtesy Photo)

and bigotry are void of love for one another. We need Dr. King’s wisdom, inclusive theology, leadership, and courage today more than ever before.”

How would King Address Today’s Political Landscape, Trump

The Rev. Peter Johnson, who began civil rights work with the Congress of Racial Equality in Plaquemine, Louisiana, remembered King’s stance on Alabama’s governor during his famous “I Have a Dream,” speech. WI Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com

“THE TIME IS

ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT” - DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SAFEWAY IS PROUD TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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Energy for Everyone Submitted by Washington Gas

Brandon Todd serves as Senior Director of Corporate Public Policy for Washington Gas (WGL), leading the government affairs and public policy team responsible for developing and managing public policy positions. He previously served six years on the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 4. Brandon is active across the metropolitan Washington region, serving on both business and philanthropic boards.

Energy equity remains one of our society's most urgent issues. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, Washington Gas remains passionate about the challenges of energy equity and fairness.

Energy equity remains one of our society's most urgent issues, especially among underserved households. In 2023, Project Hope reported that more than 30 million households in the United States cannot adequately meet their daily energy needs.

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day in 2024, Washington Gas remains passionate

about the challenges of energy equity and fairness. Through our robust assistance programs and investments in emerging technologies, we are committed to improving access to safe, reliable and affordable solutions for everyone.

Energy inequity strikes especially hard among our most vulnerable community members. Aside from physical and mental discomfort, research indicates that unheated homes can create multiple health issues, especially for at-risk individuals. News stories report the fires and injuries that can happen when residents resort to unsafe indoor heating methods.

However, the value of an energy-secure household transcends the

comfort of warmth. It means light to brighten dark days and the daily pleasures of hot showers, fresh laundry and clean dishes. It supports the joy of meals prepared and shared with family and friends.

Energy equity is about living life… not just enduring it and hoping for better days.

Helping families achieve energy-stable homes is a long-standing call to action for our Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) program.

Since 1983, WAFF has helped nearly 100,000 households through $34 million in assistance. WAFF is available regardless of what method a household uses to heat their home, even when other aid may not be available.

Alongside the WAFF initiative, our Energy Assistance programs help local families maintain reliable, uninterrupted energy services. We strive to ensure that our 1.2 million customers have the best options and payment plans to fit their budgets and schedules during times of need.

As we honor the inclusive teachings of Dr. King, the importance of personal and corporate responsibility has never been greater. The 2024 “It Starts With Me” message from the King Center resonates deeply with our core values. You could say it starts with…

MEaningful Conversations. The path to energy equity begins with honest dialogue. Engaging with customers, stakeholders and policymakers aligns our energy strategies with real-world needs. These conversations create a focused path that bridges the gaps between households and the energy they deserve.

MEasuring Impact. What isn’t well measured isn’t well managed. Our dedication to ongoing assessments increases the effectiveness of our programs by identifying what is working well and what isn’t. From tracking households needing assistance to

evaluating energy stability markers, solid data leads to positive outcomes for those we serve.

MEntorship. By investing in current and next-generation energy experts, we are nurturing the future of equity. From student internships to sponsored programs through organizations such as DC Infrastructure Academy and Teambuilders Academy, we are committed to professional empowerment. Mentoring nurtures knowledge and experience, creating a skilled workforce that is deeply aware of its role in promoting fairness.

MErging Technologies. A famous quote suggests, "Life is best organized as a series of daring ventures from a secure base.” The same is true for advanced, successful energy portfolios.

Based on data and research, we pair the security of traditional natural gas with future-forward technologies.

Balancing reliability and innovation can help support stable, affordable energy services while new solutions emerge as potential energy options.

MEthane. Renewable natural gas (RNG) claims a significant role within the Washington Gas emerging technologies landscape, and this energy option begins by capturing and processing landfill methane. The capability to produce RNG locally means that it tends to be less affected by the geopolitical instabilities and disruptions that can impact other energy sources. Stable energy is especially vital for underserved households and businesses that are often more affected by outages and interruptions.

The Washington Gas commitment to energy equity is dynamic and evolves to meet changing needs.

We are proud to have served our vibrant DMV area for over 175 years.

Thank you for being our partners on the journey toward a more equitable future for all.

Do you or someone you know need help with your energy bill? Visit washingtongascares.com or scan the QR code on this page to explore options for financial assistance and bill payment options.

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WHAT WOULD KING DO? REFLECTIONS FROM A LOCAL ACTIVIST

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Like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ty Hobson-Powell shined brightly as a youth leader.

At 15, Hobson-Powell graduated from the University of Baltimore. By 17, he had a master’s degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

In 2020, during the 57th anniversary commemoration of the March on Washington, Hobson-Powell, then 25 years old, spoke before thousands.

Hobson-Powell, now 28, continues to speak truth to power. Similar to Dr. King, he organizes for people’s political rights and material needs as founder and executive director of Concerned Citizens of D.C. Currently, Hobson-Powell is preparing to rally council support for legislation that mandates the creation of a District-wide character education curriculum. In spite of his understandably busy schedule, he carved out time to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy.

5 Ty Hobson-Powell, founder and executive director of Concerned Citizens of D.C., shined brightly as a youth leader, just like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Courtesy Photo)

What are your plans for the Dr. King holiday?

funding of Israel to support the bombing of innocent Palestiniains.

Back then, we were talking about the right to sit down in a restaurant and being able to afford that meal. In 2024, we're having that same conversation.

There’s D.C. statehood and the assault on voting rights. I’d be remiss to say we haven’t had any progress. We have and we made some strides but to sit here and act like we’re not fighting for the exact same things would be a lie.

We’re fighting for our very democracy. All these things from Dr. King’s time, plus issues he couldn't have foreseen, like whether Trump could run given his role in the insurrection.

What do you take away from Dr. King’s life in your work?

Is local leadership reflecting the values that Dr. King imparted?

Why or why not?

A lot of people will be at the parade -- including prospective politicians. Beyond the guise of cameras, I’ll be living up to Dr. King’s service ideals at D.C. Central Kitchen and, after that, spending time with my family. Some of my service is making sure I’m pouring into my babygirl in a productive way.

There are ways to be self-enriching and selfish with this ability to captivate crowds but Dr. King used that talent in service of the people. It’s an instructive model. God gave me a gift early on to be a vessel to speak truth to power to make sure people are taken care of in this life. That’s one of the most inspirational things that I have from Dr. King.

How were issues that Dr. King tackled similar to the issues of the day?

Back then, it was the war in Vietnam. Now, the issue is the massive

There are people living out Dr. King’s values. I would also have to think about what Dr. King fought for.

That was the transformation of oppressive forces to things that represent freedom and justice.

The city hasn’t done enough to show that we’re fighting against the high cost of living. I can’t help but believe that Dr. King would have something to say about our homeless population. He would say that our budget is a moral document.

Read more on www.washingtoninformer.com WI @SamPKCollins

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WHAT WOULD KING DO TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE?

Climate Justice from a Place of Faith: Christian Leaders Reflect

By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Writer The day before he died, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. rallied with striking waste collectors against unsafe working conditions — including exposure to toxic pollution. Today, the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike is now considered one of the first major mobilizations against environmental injustice in the U.S. “If he can take on Wonder Bread in his last speech, and the local banks, I'm hopeful he would take on Exxon and Shell and Chevron, too,” said the Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the nonprofit Hip Hop Caucus. “It’s my thinking that anything that would have hurt the community that he was fighting for, [King] would have thought it to be a moral obligation to stand up. And there's nothing more important than standing up to industries that are literally killing and polluting

5 The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, rallies the crowd at a demonstration against major banks’ fossil fuel investment in downtown D.C. in March. (Robert R. Roberts / The Washington Informer)

communities.”

As a minister and community activist, Yearwood is one of many

in the climate and environmental justice movement who draw inspiration for their work from Chris-

WHAT WOULD KING DO?: REFLECTIONS FROM A LOCAL ACTIVIST

Tony Lewis Jr. Reflects on MLK and How He Would Fight for Justice Today

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor Leading into the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s federal holiday, activist Tony Lewis Jr. reflected on the slain civil rights leader’s valiant justice fight and how he might look at the world today.

“King would encourage us in our communities to love each other. He would encourage the powers that be to create more opportunities to access, to really address poverty, which is, I think, the primary driver of mass incarceration and of crime in general.

I know that was one of the pillars for him,” said Lewis Jr., a D.C. native who fights against mass incarceration and works toward family reunification.

Adding that “Black people are still the most economically disenfranchised” racial group in the

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U.S., Lewis Jr. emphasized that addressing economic disparities would be key for King.

“And economic justice, I think, is the thing that Dr. King would fight for the most. And you know, prior to his death, I think that it had become sort of his seminal [work],” he said.

Lewis Jr. also noted King’s passion for peace and considered what his take would be on today’s wars abroad and challenges of violence across communities in D.C. and the U.S..

I think Dr. King would be speaking out for peace in Gaza and Israel. I think he will ultimately be speaking out about the importance of us stopping violence in our own communities. So the same things he still fought in the late 50s and 60s. I think he will be standing for today.

Unfortunately, I think so many of those issues that we think are a part of a bygone era are very present, very present,” Lewis Jr. said, before also

5 Activist, father, husband and son Tony Lewis Jr. (Courtesy Photo)

noting King’s anti-Vietnam War stance.

“We're still seeing war in Israel and Gaza and in Ukraine, so I'm just praying for peace throughout our world.” Lewis Jr. continued.

“We all have to live out the dream of Dr. King, and again, find our way, find our peace, and ways to help bring value and bring us together.” WI

tian faith and the Black church.

“The Bible says that the earth is the Lord's… because it belongs to him, it's our job to take care of it,” said Pastor André Greene of Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Ward 7. “As a Christian, I feel that it's my responsibility to do that.”

Nationwide, around 3,000 congregations have worked with Green the Church, an organization founded by a California pastor in 2010 to amplify environmental messages in theology and promote sustainable and resilient practices. More than 90 congregations in the District, across faiths, have installed solar panels or otherwise participated in solar power projects, according to data from Interfaith Power and Light DMV. “Christ teaches that we need to look out for those who are not able to look out for themselves,” Greene said. “So as a pastor, that's one of the things that I really look at as my job… we need to be a part of the community and what’s going on around us.”

His congregation and the surrounding Ward 7 River Terrace community has fought for environmental justice since the 1970s, when residents began organizing to shut down the polluting Pepco plant that operated across the

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street until 2012. Greene himself has been deeply involved with the Washington Interfaith Network’s efforts relating to gas use in the District, including testing residents’ homes for indoor air pollution and pushing the D.C. government to support no-cost electrification for low- and moderate-income households.

“With the environment and climate justice, it’s [about] spreading the word and saying, ‘This is what's happening and this needs to change,’” said Greene. “Just as they did with the civil rights movement — we're going to speak what’s wrong, and we're going to take action when action needs to be, and we're going to believe that things will change if we trust God and put our faith in it.”

Robin Lewis, who serves as climate equity director for Interfaith Power and Light DMV, works to create networks of support and information sharing about environmental and climate justice among Black churches. She wants more people to understand that “the environment” refers to everywhere people live, work, play and pray — not just untouched natural spaces.

Environmental justice, to her, has deep connections to affordable housing, crime, health disparities, food insecurity and, above all, racial justice.

“You shouldn't be old and living with mold in your basement because you couldn't afford to pump it out, because you're in a flood zone,” Lewis said. “Are you in an area where your church basement floods, where people have lead in their pipes? Those are issues that are environmental, and they're about justice.”

“I think that we talk about [climate change], but I don't think that the world knows how much it affects lives,” Greene said. “If someone is sick, because they have asthma, because something in the house is affecting it, or something on Earth is affecting our health — now you have medical bills, and now you can't pay for them. Now you go out and commit crime, because you're trying to get money.”

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D.C.’s Ills Main Subject of MLK Essay Entrants

By James Wright WI Staff Writer Xander Sehgal is passionate about addressing the problems that plague the District and utilized the 2024 DC MLK Essay Contest to air his thoughts on solutions and how youth can play a role in helping struggling city residents.

“Participating in the essay contest helped me to organize my thoughts and to define my ideas,” said Xander, an 11th grader at the Basis DC Public Charter School after reading his winning High School Division piece before 150 people at the Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Library in Northwest on Jan. 13.

Norm Nixon, the president of the alumni association of the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute Association and the Rev. Nicole A. Johnson-Douglas, managed the program in which Xander read his winning essay. Nixon said the event was the ninth in the series.

“We received over 100 entries in the elementary, middle school and high school division," he said. “We want to thank the teachers and counselors who shared our flier with the students.”

Nixon noted that many of the essays talked about the violence in the city and how it affected their lives. Some essays offered solutions, as in the case of Xander’s.

Johnson said in the Elementary Division, Watkins Elementary School had the most entrants. Hart Middle School had the most essays for the Middle School Division, while Basis DC and Ballou tied for the High School Division, she said.

The essay contest committee also recognized youth leaders from around the District for their work in school and in the community.

Joining Xander as winners in the High School Division were second placer Anna Elisabeth Martinez-Graham, a ninth grader at the School Without Walls High School and third placer Jaylen Wilson, a ninth grader at Henry E. Lackey.

The winner of the Middle School Division was Mya Starks, a seventh grader at the Washington School for Girls. James Brooks II, a sixth grader attending Brookland Middle School placed second in the division and third place went to Starks’ schoolmate and classmate Gabriella Poindexter.

Bella Byrd, a fourth grader at Watkins Elementary School, took first place in the Elementary School Division. Byrd’s schoolmate, fifth grader Demi Johnson, took second while Jahlil Missouri, a fifth grader at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School was third in the division.

Here are the winning essays:

Sharing Is Caring Sharing With Others Is Better

By Bella Byrd I am Bella Byrd. I am a fourth-grade student at Watkins Elementary School.

My neighborhood has two problems: loud noise and violence. In my neighborhood, I see and hear about violence every day, and people are so loud.

I want to fix my neighborhood. In my neighborhood, it is very loud at 5 Bella Byrd (Ja’Mon Johnson/ night. There's a lot of screamThe Washington Informer) ing at night. People are so loud that no one can sleep because everybody is screaming. Sometimes I cannot even go to sleep. When I go to school, I am so tired and sleepy. It is hard to focus and learn.

I know a solution. There should be times when loud noise is

okay during the day when people are at work or school, but there should be no music or noise at night. We can listen to music during the day times and on weekends. When it's time to sleep, the noise must stop. We should have quiet time at 9:00 pm. Another solution is soundproof windows to hear less music and sounds from outside. I think more sleep is better for everyone. When people are rested, they are not as cranky, angry, or sleep-deprived.

Another issue in my neighborhood is violence. In my neighborhood, people get hurt a lot, and some people are killed. I have seen the police and heard gunshots. This makes me scared and sad for myself and my neighbors too. People are hurting each other, and I do not know why. I have solutions. There should be more security so people feel safe and fewer people can hurt each other. Another way to stop the violence is to teach people to talk and learn how to be kind to others. People who help each other will not hurt people. We could do fun activities together, learn to share, and be a community.

In conclusion, my neighborhood is violent and loud, but I think these solutions will fix the community. We should share and care for others. WI

Bending Toward Truth and Justice

By Maya Starks Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” When I look at my community, I do not see a single great action that could fix all of its challenges. However, I think if the community and its members did a lot of small actions in a great way, I think we could truly achieve peace for our community.

We were asked a question on what solutions would we offer to bring peace to our community and how would young people be involved in it. I Mya Starks as a 12 year old 7th grader from Washington School for Girls has some suggestions to bring about peace in the community. First, we could start with community gatherings where everyone's ideas could be included on what we could do to get peace in the community. Second, we could have conflict resolution programs which would include meditation methods to solve issues within the community. Lastly, diversity workshops within schools so we can have mutual respect and understanding of each other's cultural differences.

I believe an important way to achieve societal friendship is by bringing people together at community gatherings within Ward 8. I would invite parents, student government, and administrative staff from all the schools. They could come together for ideas of ways to help one another out and for the schools to make the community a better place for the students. Our community is not at peace. We have more hostility and violence than we have harmony and societal friendships. A way of switching that around is to start on the school level where young voices could be heard.

We should start a program that is a meditation and conflict resolution. The workshops would teach young people skills in emotional awareness, communication and problem solving. If we expect to have the truth and justice in our community we need to start teaching the youth about how to solve conflicts when they are young because we are the future. Educating young people about ways to effectively communicate and build negotiation skills to solve their problems with their conflicting parties without using violence is the goal. My plan is to start by initiating workshops in schools and the meditation would be

Elementary School Division Bella Byrd Watkins Elementary School - 4th Grade

Middle School Division Maya Starks Washington School for Girls - 7th Grade

involved with it because it teaches you how to respond to stressing situations rather than react to them. Conflict resolution plays an important role in finding peace for any community.

A very important problem in communities is that people do not have an understanding of different cultures. We need to emphasize the importance of cultural understanding. We can improve our understanding by improving our tolerance for different cultures. An example is organizing exchange programs or diversity workshops.

Also, celebrating different ethnicities, religions and backgrounds. 5 Maya Starks (Ja’Mon Johnson/ The Washington Informer.)

This will help with the cultural differences and help them to accept them for who they are. Young people play a role in this by leading events. They would invite speakers from different backgrounds and have open discussions with them. Young people can also talk about their different backgrounds, showcase their cultural traditions and some of their talents. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr once said, ”I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” That’s the legacy we should want to carry on–for people not to judge others by their culture or differences but by their personality and character. This can lead to respect and appreciation among everyone.

The task of bringing peace to our communities requires efforts from all individuals of all ages. Young people play a crucial role in building a peaceful community and can bring new ideas and perspectives. By having community gatherings between the schools, conflict resolution programs and cultural understanding. We can have the hope of bending toward truth and justice. WI

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High School Division Xander Sehgal Basis DC - 11th Grade By Xander Sehgal In the shadow of grand monuments and historic corridors, Washington, D.C., stands at a crossroads. D.C. is in the grip of a profound struggle, where the gleam of national prom5 Xander Sehgal, who placed first in the inence fails to illu2024 MLK Essay (Ja’Mon Johnson/The minate the pervaWashington Informer.) sive issues plaguing our communities. The issues are plain and clear. D.C. has fallen victim to the same 3 things that every big city deals with: crime, homelessness, and unaffordable housing. These are not new developments — D.C. has been dealing with such matters for decades. However, they are becoming increasingly problematic.

As of July 2023, Washington’s homicide rate was the sixth highest of any US city. Violent crime more broadly is up 30% this year. Washington also has the biggest per-capita homelessness problem on the East Coast. This year the District counted 4,922 unhoused people — an 11.6%increase from 2022. And then there’s the housing crisis. DC has 20,000 low-income city residents on a waiting list for public housing from the city. And yet, 25% of the DCHA’s 8,000 units lie unoccupied at any given time. I have seen the effects of these issues firsthand, as I witnessed a long time family friend and neighbor fall victim to the housing crisis, requiring him to stay at a homeless shelter.

Now that it’s clear what issues we are facing as a city, it’s time to discuss some possible solutions. More specifically, youth-led solutions. Youth-led solutions offer a unique and valuable perspective that can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of initiatives aimed at addressing various challenges.

To resolve these 3 overarching problems in DC, I have designed Project RISE — a comprehensive initiative aimed to harness the dynamic energy of the youth and weave together innovative solutions to combat crime, homelessness, and unaffordable housing, while fostering educational empowerment. This project is based around the simple acronym RISE: Reimagination, Innovation, Sustainability, and Empowerment. The project is designed as follows:

R - Reimagining Safe Communities: Restorative Spaces for All This part of the project features the creation of vibrant Restorative Spaces, crafted by the ingenuity of youth architects. Picture these Restorative Spaces as more than structures; envision them as catalysts for community collaboration, where residents converge, uniting in a collective effort to shape and implement innovative crime pre-

vention strategies. The walls, canvases of potential, could be transformed into vibrant murals under the skilled hands of young artists. By engaging the creative talents of the youth, these spaces cultivate a sense of community ownership and pride, transcending traditional crime prevention measures. These Restorative Spaces are not only a refuge but a declaration — an assertion that the community stands united against the shadows of crime.

I - Innovating Urban Solutions: Integrated Haven Communities This phase of the project revolves around the concept of Integrated Haven Communities —dynamic, multifunctional spaces designed by the inventive minds of young architects. This design takes bold steps in using nature as a means of establishing affordable housing units and homeless shelters. These Integrated Haven Communities would come in two forms- Floating Havens and Underground Havens. Underground Havens, designed by young architects, take advantage of the vast amount of space under the surface of the city. Floating Havens, which would be strategically positioned along D.C.'s waterways, embrace the potential of rivers and canals. These unconventional approaches serve as a comprehensive solution to the intertwined challenges of homelessness and unaffordable housing, transforming the subterranean and aquatic world into a haven for affordable and free living. As we reimagine urban spaces, these communities emerge not just as solutions to housing challenges but as vibrant expressions of a city embracing innovation.

S - Sustaining Empowerment Programs: Sustainable Employment and Supportive Services

bilization of youth-led outreach teams. Collaboration with local businesses not only addresses the immediate challenges of unemployment but actively engages with the local job market. Placement Centers would not only provide job-related services — they would evolve into comprehensive hubs offering mental health services, addiction counseling, and skills training. Guided by a commitment to community welfare, youth-led outreach teams would also navigate the city, delivering crucial support to those in need. In essence, Sustainable Employment and Supportive Services are not isolated initiatives but interconnected threads in a tapestry of empowerment. They signify a commitment to not only address immediate employment needs but also foster sustained well-being and growth.

E - Empowering Educational Initiatives: Education Empowerment Network Through Project RISE, the youth of Washington, D.C., become the architects of change, redefining the narrative of their city. This comprehensive initiative addresses crime, homelessness, and unaffordable housing simultaneously, recognizing the interconnectedness of these issues. From restorative spaces to integrated communities and sustainable employment programs, each component serves as a building block toward a safer, more inclusive, and vibrant city. Through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to lasting change, Project RISE embodies the ideals that Martin Luther King celebrated, providing an opportunity for a rebirth, where the city rises, resilient and united, against the tide of adversity.

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Sustainable Employment Programs emerge as a vital foundation of the project. These programs, crafted by the expertise of young professionals, would play a pivotal role in offering comprehensive job training and placement services. They serve as a bridge, closing the gap between unemployment and the attainment of sustainable employment.

These programs would feature collaborative endeavors with local businesses, the development of “Placement Centers”, and the mo-

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Dr. Martin Luther King Day 2024 “Jobs are harder to create than voting rolls.”

— Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The Nation, 1966

“R

ev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. represented the best of humanity’s compassion, care and service to others. His belief that life is defined by what we do for others should be a guiding principle for us all.”

— Congressman David Trone

As attacks on civil rights long fought for continue across the country, I will continue working to increase access to the ballot. I am a proud supporter of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore and revitalize the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

We also need to end generational poverty by creating more access to generational wealth. In the Senate, I will fight for minority business owners to have more access to capital, increase funding to our HBCUs and make home ownership more affordable across the state. Dr. King’s calls for economic justice in the fight for racial equity must never be forgotten.

U.S. SENATE Paid for by David Trone for Maryland.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Day Parade and Peace Walk 2024

5 Drumline members march in the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade without regard for the snow or frigid temperatures on Jan. 15 in Southeast. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5 A few of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade committee members pause for a photo opp. L-R: Stuart Anderson, Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, Norm Nixon, Sam Ford, Pege Gilgannon, and Macon Johnson. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer) 6 Rev. George C. Gilbert, Jr. leads the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk on Jan. 15 in Southeast. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

5 DC Metropolitan Chief of Police Pamela Smith walks in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Jan 15 in Southeast. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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Dr. Martin Luther King Day Parade and Peace Walk 2024

3 The Paul Lawrence Dunbar Senior High School JROTC march in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Southeast on Jan 15. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

4 Spectators line the street to watch the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Jan. 15.

(Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer) 6 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Mu Lambda Chapter participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Jan. 15. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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Has the Dream Become a Nightmare?

By Jeffrey L. Boney Forward Times Associate Editor (Reprinted with permission from The Houston Forward Times https://forwardtimes.com/has-thedream-become-a-nightmare/) Approximately eleven months before he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. granted an exclusive interview to NBC News' Sander Vanocur on May 8, 1967, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as pastor.

During this over 25-minute video, Dr. King shared his unfiltered thoughts on the state of Black America, a little less than four years after he delivered his iconic “Normalcy, Never Again” speech (famously referred to as the “I Have a Dream speech) on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.

As Dr. King is interviewed by Vanocur, Dr. King said something striking in response to his question.

Vanocur: When you stood on the Lincoln Memorial, that day in August, ’63,

you said ‘I Had a Dream,” did that dream envision that you could see a war in Asia, preventing the federal government doing for the Negroes, preventing the society doing for the Negroes what needed to be done?

Dr. King: That dream that I had that day has in many points turned into a nightmare.

Now I’m not one to lose hope. I keep on hoping. I still have faith in the future. But I’ve had to analyze many things over the last few years, and I would say over the last few months.

I’ve gone through a lot of soul-searching and agonizing moments. And I’ve come to see that we have many more difficulties ahead and some of the old optimism was a little superficial and now it must be tempered with a solid realism.

And I think the realistic fact is that we still have a long, long way to go and that we are involved in a war on Asian soil, which if not checked and stopped, can poison the very soul of our nation.

As the interview was ending, Vanocur asked a follow up question, to which Dr. King kept it real and pointed out the real internal problems in the country concerning the state of Black America.

Vanocur: Dr. King, even if there had not been a war in Asia, would you still not have had this nightmare insofar as the Negro movement for equality then touched on two things the white community holds sacred—their children and their property?

Dr. King: It’s much more difficult to really arouse a conscience during a time of war. I noticed the other day, some weeks ago, a Negro was shot down in Chicago, and it was a clear case of police brutality. That was on page 30 of the paper, but on page 1 at the top was 780 Viet-Cong killed. That is something about a war like this that makes people insensitive. It dulls the conscience. It strengthens the forces of reaction. And it brings into being bitterness and hatred and violence, and it strengthens the military industrial complex of our country, and it’s made our job much more difficult because I think we can go along with some programs if we didn’t have this war on our hands. That would cause people to adjust to new developments, just as they did in the South. They said they’d never ride the bus with us, blood would flow in the streets, they wouldn’t go to school, and all of these things, but when people came to see that they had to do it because the law insisted, they finally adjusted. And, I think white people all over this country will adjust once the nation makes it clear that in schools, in housing, we’ve got to learn to live together as brothers.

I think the biggest problem now is we got our gains over the last 12 years at bargain rates, so to speak. It didn’t cost the nation anything. In fact, it helped the economic side of the nation to integrate lunch counters and public accommodations. It didn’t cost the nation anything to get the right to vote established. Now, we’re confronting issues that cannot be solved without costing the nation billions of dollars. Now I think this is where we’re getting our greatest resistance.

They may put it on many other things, but we can’t get rid of slums and poverty without it costing the nation something.

Dr. King shifted his initial viewpoint of the “dream” he spoke about in 1963, versus the current reality of where he saw things after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

There appeared to be a visible

awakening in Dr. King—a major pivot towards acknowledging the realistic need for African Americans to obtain racial, social, and economic equality.

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King, let us never forget his words and his transformational challenge given to all American citizens to address the inequities and systematic issues that continue to plague the African American

community in this country.

Let’s take a look at a few issues that have changed—or not—since Dr. King delivered these remarks during this profound interview over 56 years ago and compare Dr. King’s views on select issues that he consistently sought to address, and where we are today on those issues.

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DR. KING ON EDUCATION On March 14, 1964, Dr. King was honored by the United Federation of Teachers and given the John Dewey Award. During his acceptance speech, Dr. King spoke about the importance of education to African Americans in this country and its tie to equality. Dr. King stated: “It was not fortuitous that education became embroiled in this conflict.

Education is one of the vital tools the Negro needs in order to advance.

And yet it has been denied him by devises of segregation and manipulations with quality.”

As we look at Dr. King and the state of Black America in the 1960s, with a push for integrated schools and resources, things have not really gotten any better for Black people current day.

DR. KING ON VOTING RIGHTS On May 17, 1957, Dr. King delivered a speech at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom before the Lincoln Memorial, demanding those rights be granted. Dr. King stated: “But, even more, all types of conniving methods are still being used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters. The denial of this sacred right is a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic traditions and its is democracy turned upside down.”

As we look at some of today’s legislation that has stifled the rights to vote for Blacks, restricting and impacting the ability of Black people to vote remains a focal point.

DR. KING ON FAIR AND EQUITABLE HOUSING ACCESS In a speech at Chicago Soldier Field Stadium in 1966, as part of the Chicago Open Housing Movement, Dr. King stated: “We are here today because we are tired. We are tired of paying more for less. We are tired of living in rat-infested slums… We are tired of having to pay a median rent of $97 a month in Lawndale for four rooms while whites living in South Deering pay $73 a month for five rooms. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children.”

Black people still have challenges getting housing and are being priced out of their homes due to skyrocketing property values and gentrification.

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DISB Honors The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr

With sophisticated regulatory controls and targeted financial education programs, the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) has DC covered. From students to business owners to our most vulnerable residents, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DISB are committed to providing you with the tools you need for every stage of your financial journey.

Learn more at DISB.dc.gov.

DISB CC MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR �E*AR!GOVrnNtv1�NT or: Tl-I� �DISTRICT Of= COLUMBIA

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What Would King do to Address Black Mental Health?

By Micha Green and Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Managing Editor and WI Health Reporter

Among his many fights for equality, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to address inequities in healthcare and raise awareness on the power of prioritizing love–especially self care and self love.

Health care injustice had no place in King’s dream of an equal nation.

“Of all forms of discrimination and inequalities, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman,” King said at a Medical Committee for Human Rights annual meeting in spring 1966, according to reports at the time.

With the many health challenges disproportionately affecting Black Americans today– such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia and HIV/AIDS, as

reported by Pfizer— fighting healthcare injustice continues King’s legacy of speaking out against inequities.

Following in the footsteps of King and other civil rights leaders, Dr. Edwin Chapman has dedicated his career to working with underserved communities across D.C. His goal is to lessen health disparities and socioeconomic challenges affecting the livelihood of many African American residents.

“That's really my whole focus– closing the gaps in care that we knew were present even before COVID-19. Now it's been exacerbated, of course, with the 12% increase in homelessness,” said Chapman. “The problems that we're having with food insecurity and all that is related to what we're seeing with the so-called shoplifting in our grocery stores, [shows] that we have an underlying health disparity that's really being played out in terms of economics.”

Further, as King pushed for equal rights in health care, he also emphasized prioritizing one’s own health, particularly mental health.

King reportedly attempted to take his own life twice before the age of 13.

Further, throughout his career, King worked to combat the stress, emotional pressure and anxieties of leading a movement, violent attacks coupled with death threats, and grappling with the challenges of the world.

The civil rights leader spoke on depression without having to blatantly say the word.

“You know, a lot of people don’t love themselves. And they go through life with deep and haunting emotional conflicts. So the length of life means that you must love yourself.

And you know what loving yourself also means? It means that you’ve got to accept yourself,” King said in his sermon “The Three Dimensions of

“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.”

Honoring Dr. King’s commitment to change Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words remind us of the importance of service at any level. AARP believes your experiences, skills and passion have the power to inspire others to make a difference.

We encourage everyone to continue building on his legacy by lending a helping hand in their community.

Find ways to volunteer in the District at createthegood.aarp.org aarp.org/dc |

/aarpdc |

@AARPDC

5 The MLK Holiday DC health fair on Jan. 15 pushed the importance Black male health and mental health. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

a Complete Life,” delivered at New instinct. We all want to be important, Covenant Baptist Church in Chicago to surpass others, to achieve distincin April 1967. tion, to lead the parade,” King said When planning this year’s MLK in his sermon “The Drum Major InHoliday DC Health Fair, Wendell stinct,” at Ebenezer Baptist Church Whren, Jr., knew he wanted to em- in Atlanta, Georgia on February 4, phasize Black male health and mental 1968. “And the great issue of life is to health. harness the drum major instinct. It is “I'm in the process of transition- a good instinct if you don't distort it ing to become better and I'm going and pervert it. Don't give it up. Keep through my own personal things. A feeling the need for being important. lot of my buddies are going through Keep feeling the need for being first. things. I think a lot of men suffer in But I want you to be the first in love. silence,” said Whren, 35, organizer of I want you to be the first in moral exthe health fair. “Based on the nature of cellence. I want you to be the first in the lives of the men around me, I just generosity.” felt like men needed to be supportIn that same 1968 sermon he ed and addressed on [Martin Luther stressed his message of love by noting King, Jr. day].” even mental health professionals recWhren said King’s notion of free- ommend love as opposed to hate as a dom directly aligns with his goals for means of survival.

Black male wellness.

“Hate is just as injurious to the hater “We talk about being free… but a as it is to the hated. Like an unchecked lot of us have been held captive to our cancer, hate corrodes the personalthoughts. We've been held captive to ity and eats away its vital unity,” said the opinions of other people and we're King. “Many of our inner conflicts not free. So we're walking around with are rooted in hate. This is why psychithis baggage, we're not happy or mis- atrists say, ‘Love or perish.’ Hate is too erable, we're suffering. And that's not great a burden to bear.” what Dr. Martin Luther King talked WI about,” said Whren. “[The health fair] puts us in a space where we can be free to just be our authentic selves for those few hours. [I hope] when these men encounter these different health care providers, that they find it safe enough and inviting enough and welcoming enough to be free in the moment— to have a moment of freedom that Dr. King was talking about.”

As he preached about in 1967, King’s keys to combating mental health challenges were prioritiz- 5 The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke ing love and working toward be- out against health care inequities and promoted ing a good person. the importance of prioritizing mental health with “We all have the drum major a particular focus on self love. (Courtesy Photo)

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For the third consecutive year, the Washington Wizards partners with the Greater Washington Urban League to host an essay contest for high school seniors!

DR. E.B. HENDERSON “Grandfather of Black Basketball”

The contest will honor Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson, a sports historian, educator, administrator, coach, athlete, and civil rights activist known as the 'Grandfather of Black Basketball' and Benjamin Banneker, who is credited as one of the surveyors of the District of Columbia and laying the boundary stones to create the District.

Dr. Henderson, was said to have written over 3,000 letters to newspapers advocating civil rights and Banneker, wrote a letter to the then U.S. Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson advocating for justice of African Americans and opposing slavery. To celebrate and honor their legacies, select a community leader/organization and write an essay between 350-500 words advocating for their cause/mission and its importance in your life.

The top ten essay winners will win monetary scholarships towards their continued education or college of their choice.

The grand prize winner will receive $5,000, the second-place winner will receive $4,000, the third-place winner will receive $3,500, and the remaining seven finalists will receive $2,500 courtesy of the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. Winners will also be recognized in-game at a selected Wizards home game and on Wizardsʼ digital platforms.

BENJAMIN BANNEKER Author and Astronomer

All students who submit an essay that fits the criteria of the contest will receive two complimentary tickets to a select home game during the 2023-24 season.

Deadline to submit essay is Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

To learn more and submit your essay visit: WWW.NBA.COM/WIZARDS/ESSAYCONTEST2324 MLK-19 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2024 MARTIN LUTER KING JR SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com H-19

“THE TIME IS

ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT” - DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SAFEWAY IS PROUD TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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