Episode 86: Pause to Ponder - MLK Day: A Time for Remembrance

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations.

I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office.

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This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students.

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The third Monday of each January has been designated as MLK Day, a day that is often spent reflecting on the works and impacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While I fully support these efforts, I think that it is important that we do not limit our scope of appreciation to the efforts of a single individual but instead consider all of those who came before and laid the groundwork for him as well as those who were inspired and continued the work beyond him. In short, I want to be sure that we understand that while King and the Civil Rights Movement are often synonymous, there were a plethora of other key players that have been forgotten. 

I also want us to consider the parallels between the Civil Rights Movement of the past and that of the present. Yes, in my opinion we are still in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. We must then be cautious about how we respond to those actively pursuing our rights so that we do not replicate the same opposition that existed not only half a century ago but centuries ago as abolitionists were fighting against slavery. 

For me, this day is about remembrance. 

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