Ending Racism Resources

In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Bayard Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. The Presidential statement to the press read:

“Bayard Rustin was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all... and fought tirelessly for marginalized communities at home and abroad. An openly gay African American, Mr. Rustin stood at the intersection of several of the fights for equal rights.”

Veteran civil rights and labor leader A. Randolph was the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The fact that the March gathered a quarter of a million people was a tribute to his skill as an organizer. His final challenge to those gathered was, “When we leave, it will be to carry on the civil rights revolution home with us into every nook and cranny of the land.” That challenge is as relevant today as it was in 1963.

Although I have read what is commonly referred to as Martin Luther King's Dream speech several times in the past, preparation for this conference sent me back to read the speech again. What strikes me most today is how contemporary the speech is. With just a few changes to update the language to what we use today and several clarifications, the speech would be a powerful expression of our current situation and a description of where we need to go from here.

People think of the 1963 March on Washington as Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” march, but what was important that day wasn’t any particular speech but the fact that for the first time so many people, from such a broad range of our society, stood together and demanded that America live up to its promise.

When I saw that the crowd on the Mall was so huge, I began to believe that dedication to equality was common among Americans. The March gave me new faith in America, and motivation to return to my organizing.

Edward McNulty is a film critic, an activist, and a Presbyterian pastor. He recommends films each month to the Ending Racism USA community.

Critical race theory (CRT) has created emotional outbursts at school board meetings. President Trump’s executive order banning CRT in government agencies and FOX News rantings all feel like impolite and annoying uninformed racism. But what is at stake is the future of public education and the creation of a multicultural nation without racism. Supporting and promoting CRT is important, not just to ensure a quality American education, but for the future of America.

What can I do to work toward ending racism in America? I find it helpful to start with the two categories of racial expressions. Racism is embedded in two interacting and interconnected places: the minds of people, like me, and the structures of society.