DJCrimsonRemember how for a while they tried to turn MLK day into a day of service? I have a small story about that…
In grad school I interned for an affordable housing advocacy org. My assignment was to make a brochure touting the benefits of affordable housing to the larger community. I reached out to nonprofit developers for photos and stories of civic engagement from the tenants.
One property manager sent me a photo of kids doing neighborhood cleanup. It was the perfect photo op, but my heart sank when I saw it. (3/x)
They were doing the cleanup as part of MLK day. Yes, that’s right…a bunch of low income Black kids picking up TRASH OFF THE STREET to honor Dr. King. Just a wild perversion of the legacy of civil disobedience and the fight for justice. Needless to say, I didn’t include the photo in the brochure, and never felt the same way about the day of service stuff since. (End)