Image of the MLK Memorial in Washington DC

There was a time not too many years ago, where I felt the mission ending racism had really progressed. In the last 3 years with events in Chicago, Ferguson, MO, and Baltimore; I have realized we have not gone as far in accomplishing Dr. King’s mission as I once thought we had. Today we celebrate another anniversary of his birthday. We mark our observance with these changes to our normal routine:

• Banks are closed.
  
• New York Stock Exchange is closed.
  
• Post Offices are closed and mail is not being delivered.
  
• Many schools have this as an official holiday and school is closed.
  

These things are all fine and well, but alone they will do nothing to move us toward Dr. King’s goal. Each us needs to do a careful and honest self-examination to determine which of our behaviors are racist in nature. Then we need to resolve to change. Finally, we must hold ourselves accountable to change. None of these three things is as easy as waiting 1 day for mail or using the automatic teller machine instead of being able to see a bank employee.

I had to admit I am sometimes more intimidated when I see a black person walking toward me on a side walk than I am when I see a white person approaching me. This action is racial profiling. I don’t intend to do, but I find myself doing automatically. I hope this anniversary in 2017 is more than a party. I hope people take significant steps to end their own acts of racism!