What makes an activist an activist? Is it their devotion to a cause, is it their commitment to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves, or is it something else entirely? Every year since 1986, on the third Monday of January, millions of people have come together to try to find an answer to this, while celebrating the life and legacy that Dr. MLK Jr., arguably the most influential activist of the 20th century, has left us with.This year, I was invited to interview 10 lifelong activists, all of whom were inspired by his work and passion, and all of whom have had distinct experiences.
Each actively making their world a better place.
As I and many others entered the 5th floor of the New York Society for Ethical Culture on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, we were greeted by a table of bagels and various spreads, including cream cheese, jam, and butter, but that isn’t very important. What was important was the activists who I, and others, were paired up with to interview and write a small piece about. I had the pleasure of getting to know Marlene Williamson, a school teacher who helped her community via her teaching. She told me how she learned of activism through exposure in College Clubs like the Black Studies Union and the Caribbean Student Union. These experiences helped propel her to work at high schools with very low graduation rates, where she managed to help every student graduate, a testament to her teaching skill and compassionate attitude. She balanced her compassion with a “fair serving of discipline” when necessary. Her experiences truly showed how although she didn’t spend all her time lobbying the government for Civil Rights or protesting in the streets, she was truly an activist, and her experiences truly go to show how she was able to influence the world around her for the better through her actions.
As that portion of the event drew to a close, we headed downstairs to a more public event, where the community could enjoy the wisdom of the many activists who have spent their lives devoted to various causes. I took the opportunity to talk to many, many more people, and after eating a remarkably good lox sandwich, I had a conversation with Peter Rogina, co-founder of Peace Lights, an organization dedicated to a better future. Peace Lights emphasizes education and peace world wide. Peter first was inspired by the idea of “peace lights” after giving a presentation about Claudette Colvin, who could be considered the precursor to Rosa Parks, as she refused to give up her bus seat to a white woman and was subsequently arrested three months before Rosa Parks was arrested for a similar act of civil disobedience. This set off a chain of events leading Pete to become the Co-Founder of Peace Lights, which now has been displayed at the U.N, over 50 times in Times Square, the NY peace coalition adopted Peace Lights as their international symbol in 2015, and many other various places. All in all, Peter’s contribution to the pursuit of peace and education through art has inspired many, many organizations that are determined to make our world a more peaceful place.
While I didn’t get as much information on the rest of the interviewees, I would like to talk about each of them briefly. Shira Bronznick was one of these people. From a young age, she stood up to sexist stereotypes, and as she grew older she eventually founded a successful business. Another person who helped the world through her activism was Mary Suarez, who was a student activist for LGBTQ+ rights in the 90’s and also worked on hurricane relief and digital equality. Finally, Peter Fashing, who, while in university, worked in an Anti-Segregation program and helped desegregate a few establishments. While I could not interview these people in depth, their insights also help show how they made their world a better place, truly becoming activists.
Activism has been around for hundreds of years, and throughout that time, many have claimed its mantle. These people have worked extremely hard to make their world better, and in the true spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they have succeeded via the use of love, compassion, and diligence in their hard work.
