On the Racist Erasure of Martin Luther King Day

Tomorrow we celebrate the life and commitment of Martin Luther King Jr.

Most Americans will share quotes of his because of their belief in what he represented. Those same Americans, while not actively working or speaking out about civil rights and injustice, at least share in the vision of an equal society.

But then there are those who will repeat his words in an attempt to villainize those who speak up. We've been seeing it for the last several days as we do every year about this time. These same people like to use the words, "if MLK was alive today," as they proceed to talk trash about "uppity" Black folks who they argue are a disgrace to MLK.

These folks are racist.

They go on to use his words as if they are trying to prove they're not, in fact, racist. Here's the thing, if they are racist all year long, then share his words on Martin Luther King Day, they're still racists. While it may make them feel better about themselves, it doesn't change who they are and what they stand for.

Clearly, I'm not Black. But a great portion of my family is. No, they are not African-American, they are Black immigrants. When I speak on Black issues, that's who I'm speaking for along with the hundreds of Black friends I grew up with and have come to know along the way in this…