Today we observe a national holiday, honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He would have been 91 years old (January 15). It goes without saying, he died too young.
MLK with Jackie Robinson
His message is as important today as it was at the March on Washington, in the Church in Birmingham, the walk to Selma and more. On Friday, I reminded my students that today is not a day off, but a day "ON." I said "Dr. King did not give his life so you could sleep in and play video games all day." I added, "Instead, I hope we ask the question: What can we do for justice?!" While intrigued by the idea of a "Day On," I'm afraid my question fell on deaf ears. It's banal, too broad, too sweeping. However, in Rep John Lewis (D-Ga), I found one that grabbed them: How can you get into a good kind of trouble?
I heard Rep. Lewis give this message to students at St. Ignatius College Prep on Ash Wednesday 2015. I was reminded of it when I heard NPR's Morning Edition Rep. John Lewis' Fight For Civil Rights Began With A Letter To Martin Luther King Jr. In this 3-minute listen, Lewis, the last living speaker from the March on Washington, noted that when he was very young, he "wanted to preach the Gospel." He did.
"My philosophy is very simple: When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to stand up, you have to say something, you have to do something.
His mother used to always warn him to stay out of trouble, he said.
"But I told her that I got into a good trouble, necessary trouble," he said. "Even today, I tell people, 'We need to get in good trouble.' "
What a great play on words—words children have heard their entire lives. How it conjures up compelling imagery and creative thinking. How might we get into trouble...and be encouraged to do so? What IS a good kind of trouble?!
Too often, I have conversations with students and athletes about what they cannot or should not do. How can we harness their energy to take action—and stand up for what is right?
Let's continue to serve those in need long after the Christmas season.
Young people need assistance and accompaniment in order for this to happen. We have to bring them to the margins and the places where they can make good kind of trouble happen. I have long thought the NFL can and should set a precedent with a national day of service. We celebrated the AFC and NFC championships yesterday and await the Super Bowl in two weeks time. Why can't those teams and their local communities harness their energy, physicality, teamwork and resources to better 32 cities throughout the United States. We just might stir up a whole lot of trouble....good trouble. NINERS!!!! Photo Credits MLK and 42
At the Academy Awards ceremony, I looked twice when I saw Congressman John Lewis, introducing the nominee for Best Picture, “Green Book.” Given that the film addresses relationships between black and white Americans in the early 1960s, I should not have been surprised. The Civil Right icon said “I can bear witness that the portrait of that time and place in our history is very real. It is seared in my memory.” He added, “Our nation bears the scars of that time, as do I.
As written on AJC.com, His co-presenter was Amandla Stenberg, who starred in the film "The Hate U Give." She noted, “As this film demonstrates, any journey that opens someone’s eyes and softens their heart is one that is worth taking.” He concluded the presentation by stating, "Young or old, I encourage you to be an active participant in the journey,”
This is not the first time Lewis' words have made an impression on me. I have heard his message of invitation and encouragement, of journey and a call to action before! On Ash Wednesday 2015, he spoke to the entire student body of St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco about Fifty Years Since Selma: The Civil Rights Movement Today. I can still recall several of the stories and life lessons he offered.
What I remember most is how important his message was for young people to hear. He was but 23 years of age he served as an architect and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. However, in this address he shared what he did when he was their age. He said,
In 1957—17 years old—I met Rosa Parks. The next year, at the age of 18, I met Martin Luther King, Jr. And I want to say to you young students if you see something that is not right, something that is not fair, not just—you need to speak up and speak out. You have to make some noise and get into trouble, good trouble...necessary trouble. That is exactly what another generation of our young people did.
Since that time, I have thought quite a bit about what it might mean to make "good trouble?" I have wondered, What does "necessary trouble" look like? Can I support young people and help them get into trouble or would I see their action as teenage rebellion? What do you think?
I believe I may have found one answer. A beloved student shared with me a Nike advertisement entitled "Dream Crazier." It is narrated by none other than Serena Williams and was debuted during the Oscars. (Good call, Nike!) This student recently completed a research project on Title IX for the Jan Term assignment in Ethics, Morality and Justice. It spoke to her as it did to me. I believe it addresses a Civil Rights issue of our time.
As women continue to work toward equality in the work place and beyond, we are all called to revisit and revise the expectations society has and holds. Are they fair? Are they limiting? Do they empower humanity? Or keep us down?
Sports continues to offer a lens through which to evaluate and assess the strides women have made and where we still need to go. The audible message speaks to matters that female athletes face; the images suggest that the world may see and perceive things differently. As Williams states
a woman running a marathon was crazy!
a woman boxing was crazy!
a woman dunking? Crazy
Coaching in the NBA? crazy!
a woman competing in a hijab? crazy!
changing her sport....landing a double cork 1080....winning 23 Grand Slams, having a baby and then coming back for more..crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy and crazy!
She concluded the ad by stating "If they want to call you crazy? Fine! Show them what crazy can do." She's right. I think young women—female athletes in particular ought to go crazy...but let it be a good kind of crazy...a necessary crazy. Let's see what becomes of that.
More opportunity? Healthier minds and bodies? Broken records? National championships? New friendships? Big fun? Increased athleticism? Better salaries? Stronger leaders? The possibilities are limitless....
