Martin Luther King Day is approaching

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

Martin Luther King Day is on the 15th, and I have a bit of a dilemma. At work, the company's African American employee network is hosting a celebration on the 16th (we get the 15th off). They have asked the other affinity groups (Asian, Hispanic, women's, and GLBT) to attend the celebration and have a representative say a few words about MLK Day, what King meant to us, etc.

The chair of our GLBT group had asked for volunteers a while ago. I emailed him the other day and he said no one has stepped up to the plate yet. (In defense of our network, we are a pretty small group. But I am forced to admit that our membership is almost entirely white). We can't let MLK day pass and have our group not take part in it. So I was asked if I would say a few words.

I know there's a lot I can talk about. There are so many parallels between the struggles against racism and against homophobia (though I am also told that many racial minorities do not like their struggle being compared to gays and lesbians' fight for rights). I am just extremely nervous about doing this and not sure of what I'd say. Plus I don't have a lot of prep time.

Any ideas?

Comments

[earthwhatwere.livejournal.com]

This is coming from someone whose marriage is interracial--I'm white, my husband is black.

Homosexuality aside, unless you are a minority in the sense of race I'd steer clear of that issue.

Racism isn't dead or gone, but because of MLK's belief and fight for equal rights for all men and women, regardless of skin color, your company is likely blessed to have men and women in its ranks it couldn't have 40 years ago. Imagine how different your company would be without these people there.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Homosexuality aside, unless you are a minority in the sense of race I'd steer clear of that issue.

Of the issue of interracial relationships or of race in general?

Racism isn't dead or gone, but because of MLK's belief and fight for equal rights for all men and women, regardless of skin color, your company is likely blessed to have men and women in its ranks it couldn't have 40 years ago. Imagine how different your company would be without these people there.

This gives me a good starting point. Thank you! It is helpful.

[earthwhatwere.livejournal.com]

Race in general. It's practiced a lot quieter than it was 40 years ago, but it's still there, in hiring, in how people are treated. Sometimes it's subtle, sometimes not so much.

[selve.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a bind. Well, you ARE being asked to speak about MLK's life and accomplishments from a specifically LGBT perspective. If the AA employee network had a problem with that comparison, they wouldn't have asked your group to contribute. Still, I guess it's best to play it safe.

Maybe you could focus on the struggle for equality--I don't think anyone could take issue with the fact that it's the common denomitator between various minority groups, whatever their particular experience.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for replying. I am still trying to figure out the best way to handle.

Wow, what a bind. Well, you ARE being asked to speak about MLK's life and accomplishments from a specifically LGBT perspective. If the AA employee network had a problem with that comparison, they wouldn't have asked your group to contribute.

Well, technically they did a blanket invite of all the other network groups. They couldn't exactly say, "We invite all employee network groups to participate - except the gay and lesbian group." Politically that wouldn't have flown. :) So it's not like they specifically said they want a GLBT perspective. Part of me worries they perhaps felt they just *had* to include us.

Maybe you could focus on the struggle for equality--I don't think anyone could take issue with the fact that it's the common denomitator between various minority groups, whatever their particular experience.

That is a great idea. I've been compiling some of MLK's speeches. He has one how he talks about the need for unity and uses an example of how in Egypt, the Pharoah would have had all the slaves fighting each other since if they unified it'd be a big threat to him. I'll try to take that approach, maybe quote from that speech.

It still is not an easy task. I wish more other members of the network stepped up to the plate to help.

[selve.livejournal.com]

Part of me worries they perhaps felt they just *had* to include us.

Yes. Unfortunately, that is a possibility. I hope it's not the case, though.

He has one how he talks about the need for unity and uses an example of how in Egypt, the Pharoah would have had all the slaves fighting each other since if they unified it'd be a big threat to him. I'll try to take that approach, maybe quote from that speech.

That's a perfect example. I can't see how anyone would have a problem with it, and I'm sure you'll do a great job. It sucks that no one else in the network volunteered to help; I just hope you won't get stuck with all the work every time something like this comes up.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I came up with a few more ideas! One is to track down some quotes from Coretta Scott King -- she is actually very pro-LGBT. (I thought I even read once that she supports same sex marriage). Also, I was reading a book yesterday and ran across a quote from someone who was head of a Black GLBT group.

So I think this speech can come together and I'm starting to feel a tad more comfortable.