Celebrate Diversity by Doing the Work of Inclusion

With the celebration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and legacy leading right into Black History Month, this time of year public and private spaces are replete with celebrations of diversity. It's beautiful and necessary to honor and acknowledge the historical figures that have changed the course of this country through their personal efforts and by leading various human rights movements. Plus, any opportunity for people to come together - especially if there's food involved - is an opportunity to build community. However, the ultimate celebration of diversity goes beyond surface level acknowledgements to continuing the ongoing and ever-necessary work of inclusion.

Dr. King left us countless powerful words from his writings and speeches that can be picked and arranged to inspire and support most any inclination. Commonly displayed, shared, and embraced are words of love and forgiveness like:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude."

But, our responsibility as a global citizens is fundamentally fulfilled by deliberate actions to address educational, cultural, economic, as well as any other disparities through a comprehensive commitment to inclusion. That commitment is manifested through love, empathy, acceptance, celebration, and healing; but also discomfort, confrontation, and intentional inclusion efforts.

While we celebrate, let us also remember some of Dr. King's calls to action as an inevitably interconnected society:

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

In Unity and Support,

Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims

Co-owner and Lead Consultant