Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of celebration of the life of the man, his leadership and the founding of a movement that is fundamentally and irrevocably changing the character of this country.  And despite the profound inequities that still persist between African Americans and Whites in our nation, state, and county, today should not only be a time where we reflect on the great distance we still have to travel on the road to racial and economic justice. It should also be an occasion to honor the extraordinary sacrifices, courage, and achievements of the many civil rights pioneers and warriors who launched us on this journey.

Our recent report on racial disparities, Race to Equity, makes terribly clear the extent and urgency of the unfinished work that confronts us right here in Wisconsin and Dane County. But the example of Dr. King, who faced far higher mountains to climb, should inspire all of us to persevere, to dream, to struggle, and to demand progress of ourselves and our neighbors. Today should be a day where we rededicate ourselves to continuing this work with renewed determination and hope, armed with the truth of Dr. King’s belief: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Erica Nelson
Race to Equity Project Director