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By Micha Green WI Managing Editor
Find Inspiration in King’s Call to 'Commit to the Noble Struggle' for Equity and Justice
Though the federal holiday was officially Jan. 20, The Washington Informer celebrates the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his tremendous contributions to civil rights year long.
While declared upwards of 60 years ago, many of King’s wise words resonate today and are often used in The Informer’s weekly “Words to Live By.” Further, his work continues to inspire countless activists often featured in The Informer’s coverage.
With his commitment to peace and justice, King became a martyr for civil rights, and while his life was robbed at the young age of 39 in 1968, his mission continues through freedom fighters of today.
As the MLK Holiday DC Committee encourages the 2025 theme, “commit to the noble struggle for equal rights,” The Washington Informer is highlighting the people exemplifying that notion through work and action. From religious leaders, to artists and politicians, many residents are working toward the fight for equity and justice today.
While social media promotes seeking a “soft life” an important notion that emphasizes prioritizing overall wellness, committing to the “noble struggle” is critical today and for the future of this nation and world.
“Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in,” King said in April 1959 at the March for In-
tegrated Schools.
King's call to action almost 66 years ago is just as important today as it was then.
There’s time and space for “soft life,” in our daily routines, such as eating healthy and nutritious meals, prioritizing self-care, and finding moments for fun. But this moment also requires vigilance, standing up for what is right, and fighting against racism, sexism and unjust policies.
In the famous words of King’s comrade Fannie Lou Hamer: “We have to get out there and work. We don’t have time to be just sitting around idly waiting for someone to come by and save us.”
As the Trump administration and Project 2025 proposes efforts that threaten progress toward educational, economic and racial equity, The Washington Informer will not only be covering all the policies and how they affect Black Americans, but highlighting the changemakers working toward a more equitable and just society.
This edition, learn about some of the efforts happening to keep King’s memory and mission alive and turn to The Informer as a regular resource to stay up-to-date on equity work. Find inspiration in the stories and use King’s life and words as a call to action to “commit to the noble struggle” for a just and peaceful nation and world.
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(Courtesy
5 WI Managing Editor Micha Green (Courtesy Photo)
Local Creatives Channel MLK’s Legacy Through Social Justice Art, Youth Empowerment
By Jada Ingleton WI Digital Equity Fellow
As a central figure of the Civil Rights Movement and in a time of blatant racism and oppression for African Americans, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., rallied artists— from singer Mahalia Jackson, to entertainer Harry Belafonte— to serve on the frontlines in the fight for social justice.
Since his assassination in 1968, King’s impact lives through television programs, national celebrations, and the generations of Black creatives who have since continued his mission of transforming society within their own realms of artistic expression.
“Art has the power to provide change in the passing of people's emotions, but history is referred to as things of the past,” said lyricist Charles “Eclipse” Barnes, Jr., who released the song “History” in King’s memory. “What we do today immediately becomes history, right when we do it, and has an effect on our future; so it's about, what are we doing today differently from the past that can change the future.”
Figures like Dr. King and his artistic allies set the tone for future generations to find their voice – or creative outlet – in the mission for a just society.
Today, local artists like Barnes, the Rev. Nathaniel Douglas and more enlist the powers of spoken word, visual arts, and music to influence change and reflect King’s legacy, a mission amplified throughout the District’s weeklong Martin Luther King (MLK) holiday celebration, which took place from Jan. 11 - 18.
“I've been able to really look at Dr. King–where he started, how he ended, and [ask] where do I pick up” said Douglas, pastor and revolutionary rapper. “There's been a lot of repeating what Dr. King has already accomplished, but I think more so, it's more important for us to pick up where he left off, and that’s what MLK week
has done for me.”
D.C. ARTISTS PICK UP WHERE KING LEFT OFF
As a premier destination for cultural arts and advocacy work, the nation’s capital is home to many changemaking creatives in the business of making a difference.
Back in 2021, Barnes – a music educator and poet – debuted his single “History” as a celebration of Black history and an introspective reflection of Dr. King and Malcolm X’s respective journeys in the civil rights era. The song offers a call to action just as much as a lesson in the strength of unity. Four years later, its message remains as relevant as ever: recognizing the roles personal and daily actions play in the future of adversity.
“I work with a lot of youth…so I've seen a lot of kids have very positive outcomes and stay on track just by being in a situation of providing different paths, knowledge and comparison to the way that things were, and still presently are. Then [I show] them how we can change to do these things differently for tomorrow,”
Barnes said, adding that the song was a “good fit” this year given the presidential transition.
The lyricist and educator isn’t the only one whose artistry stands as a rallying cry for change.
Similar to King, Douglas aims to empower the youth of tomorrow through what he refers to as “inspirational art.”
“I always rapped about the change I wanted to see, and hip-hop culture was my way of expression,” Douglas told The Informer. “[Through] the power of the spoken word, and that we do have creative power that was given to us by God, we can actually speak things into existence if God wills it.”
WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org.
As Dr. King Once Asked, Where Do We Go From Here?
By Charlene Crowell
The year 2025 marks the nation’s 39th observance of a national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ironically, the still-beloved minister and martyr was only 39 years old when an assassin’s bullet took his life on April 4, 1968.
While many will rightly recall his valiant civil rights activism, his equally vigilant call for economic justice remains as urgent today as it was decades ago.
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s fourth and final book was published in 1967 after a decade of activism that led to the enactment of federal laws on civil rights (1964), and voting rights (1965). Despite notable and significant victories, he wrote of the unfinished journey that America still faced and was
morally-bound to pursue.
“There is nothing to prevent us from paying adequate wages to schoolteachers, social workers and other servants of the public to ensure that we have the best available personnel in these positions which are charged with the responsibility of guiding our future generations,” wrote Dr. King.
“Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort from the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the fires of justice.”
Multiple and recent research reports highlight in precise terms many of the ways Black America remains economically shortchanged.
Across the country, local communities continue to struggle with the still-rising costs of housing and homelessness. In 2024, about 23 of every 10,000 people in the United States – experienced homelessness in an emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional housing program, or in unsheltered locations across the country, according to the most recent report by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Further, although Blacks comprise just 12 percent of the nation’s population, and 21 -
cent of the country’s poor, we bear a disproportionate 32 percent of all people experiencing homelessness.
In times past, America’s homeless were frequently veterans. But in the past year, children under the age of 18 represented a 33 percent increase in homelessness, the single largest surge, while that of veterans dropped by eight percent, according to HUD.
“Sadly, we know exactly how we got here”, said Congresswoman Maxine Waters in reaction to the disturbing findings. “For decades, a lack of investment in affordable housing has forced countless families out of their homes and onto the streets. This is a crisis in every county and city across America, whether they be rural, urban, or suburban communities.”
For generations of Black Americans, higher education has long been viewed as a ladder away from poverty. But today, millions who dedicated time and energies in pursuit of higher education remain mired in unsustainable and longterm debt. Among Black college graduates, the detrimental effects of historic economic disparities are particularly severe for those who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“Paying from the Grave”: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Alumni and the Burden of Student Loan Debt, a 2022 report by the Center for Responsible Lending tracked nagging and extensive economic hardships borne from heavy student debt.
“Representing only 3 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities, HBCUs enroll 9 percent of all Black students and award 13 percent of all bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students,” states the report.
“HBCU graduates are more likely to use loans to pay for college and to borrow greater amounts than non-HBCU graduates,” the report continues. “Taking on a large debt at an early age impacts lifetime earnings and generational wealth by delaying or preventing the opportunity to buy a home, start a business, or invest in retire-
ment, thereby widening the racial wealth gap.”
Unfortunately, Black America’s saga with student debt extends into the older years of many consumers, according to the New York Federal Reserve Bank. Its analysis of indebtedness by generation showed that although borrowers ages 35 to 49 ($635 billion) and those ages 25 to 34 ($490 billion) held the highest debt in dollars, significant billion-dollar debt was still owed by borrowers ages 50 to 61 ($284.5 billion), and 62 and older ($116 billion).
This high level of debt that extends over multiple decades makes building wealth or some measure of financial stability much harder for Black America. As this column recently reported, a report by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) detailed how owning a home – the nation’s most reliable building-block to wealth – shortchanges Black America yet again. In fact, the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same wealth as all 48 million Blacks.
These and other contemporary economic challenges were prophetically championed by Dr. King.
“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people the giant triplets of racism, economic exploitation and militarism are incapable of being conquered,” Dr. King foretold in a speech entitled, The Three Evils of Society. “A civilization can flounder as readily in the face of moral bankruptcy as it can through financial bankruptcy.”
In a few weeks, Congress must wrestle with both a recurring debt limit and budget priorities as authorization on each face a ticking time clock.
“Freedom is not won by a passive acceptance of suffering,” wrote Dr. King in his final book. “Freedom is won by a struggle against suffering. By this measure, Negroes have not yet paid the full price for freedom. And whites have not yet faced the full cost of justice.”
Amen, Dr. King.
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Religious Leaders Echo Dr. King’s Message of Hope, Community Ahead Trump Reinstatement
The Rev. Tony Lee Touts 2025 as the Year of ‘Finally’
By Jada Ingleton WI Digital Equity Fellow
While the nation prepares to navigate a second term for President Donald Trump, religious leaders across the city and nation are prioritizing social activism with the same commitment and endurance as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who mobilized communities of faith in a time of crisis similarly felt today for Black Americans scorned anew in a historically racist regime.
“It’s important for us in this season to hold a perspective, and our perspective, as Black people, is we've had bad leaders before. This is a time in which we have to grab a hold of the tenacity of our foreparents and know that we have what it takes to make it through this time as well,” said the Rev. Tony Lee, addressing concerns about the future of Black America in a Jan. 9 segment of “Let’s Talk WIN-TV.”
More than five decades since he became a martyr for social justice, particularly as the nation inaugurated Trump on the same day of King’s national holiday, faith leaders are emphasizing the civil activist’s commitment to unity and peace, leveraging this year’s MLK Holiday DC theme of “Commit to the Noble Struggle for Equal Rights” to promote communal organization and reinstill values of the Black church.
“Especially with the shift in leadership, and the shift that's happening in Washington, we need the Black church to be the safety net, the place where our people can depend on that center of community,” said Lee, senior pastor at Community of Hope AME Church. “We're all we've got, and we are in this thing together, and community is what keeps us moving.”
The week leading up to the national holiday for MLK (Jan. 20), and the second inauguration for President Trump, brought religious leaders of various denominations together to enact King’s powerful message of unity and justice for oppressed communities. Organized events like the 7th Annual Prayer Breakfast (Jan. 11) and “We Are Never Alone” church service at Living Word Church (Jan. 13) offered space for empowerment and plan of action, while senior pastors like the Rev. Dr. Joseph Turner of Matthews Memorial Baptist Church reaffirmed the foundation of the Black church: a sanctuary for healing and community.
“Dr. King was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All of the [civil rights] initiatives were birthed out of the church, and somehow or another we lose that sense,” Turner said at the MLK Holiday DC annual prayer breakfast. “It's important for us to make sure that we pass it on, that it's a part of his legacy. And others
who stand, like myself, in the shadows of Dr. King will share that with those who are to come along.”
Lee and his congregation in Prince George’s County will commit to the noble fight for equality with plans to make 2025 a year of achievement and manifestation, centered around the theme: “finally.” The minister of 33
years told The Informer that, in addition to promoting fellowship and resilience, Community of Hope aims to dedicate the new year to a renowned focus on partnership expansion and the various inequities that disproportionately impact communities of color, including gun violence and poverty.
“I believe that sometimes your
greatest purpose can be found in the greatest time of crisis. I don't care who's in the White House, as long as I know God is on the throne,” Lee said. “It’s time for us to just move in the season that is ours. It's our moment to shape our legacy; It’s our moment to leave our imprint on this region, and say, finally.” WI
THE ANNUAL
black historymonth luncheon
FEBRUARY
22, 2025
LABOR
Greg Carr, Ebony McMorris, Mary Frances Berry, Marc Morial
5 The Rev. Dr. Joseph Turner of Matthews Memorial Baptist Church speaks at the MLK Holiday DC 7th Annual Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 11. He emphasized the importance of continuing King’s work and mission. (Courtesy Photo/Maurice Fitzgerald)
Brandon Todd is the VP of Government Affairs, Policy & Advocacy for Washington Gas (WGL). He leads the government affairs and public policy team and is responsible for developing and managing public policy positions. He previously served six years on the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 4. Brandon is active across the metropolitan Washington region, serving on business and philanthropic boards.
Submitted by Washington Gas
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! The 2025 theme “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365” reminds us to let service guide us in all we do.
At Washington Gas, our 176-year legacy of serving our communities is rooted in a deep respect for these principles.
Dr. King championed the belief that "life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" His message resonates through time as we honor his legacy through acts of service, reflection, and community support.
This holiday is unique in its standing as the only federal holiday designated as a day of service.* Far from fading with time, this call to serve others only resonates more strongly with each new year.
Our commitment to providing safe, reliable, affordable energy solutions interweaves with our support of DMV families. Commemorating MLK Day in 2025 reminds us that serving our communities
Energy for Everyone
by giving secure energy is vital in fostering equity and opportunity. Helping our customers do what is best for their families, budgets, and life goals can help strengthen our region, one household at a time.
For 177 years, Washington Gas has been part of the very foundation of our District. Our founding charter in 1848 was approved within the same week that the Washington Monument cornerstone was placed. Life has changed dramatically since then, but the core needs within our communities remain the same.
Every home should be warm in the winter. Every person should enjoy food security. Every child should have educational opportunities. Every generation should inherit a vibrant planet and environment.
We celebrate this day each year by encouraging our co-workers and colleagues to take this as an opportunity for community service. We support these goals by offering holiday time and opportunities to match employee volunteer hours and donations. Our team members have the flexibility to assist those
initiatives that speak most personally to them.
One of our proudest recent achievements was giving back in 2024. Washington Gas employees generously contributed to the many causes that spoke to them personally and received company matching. The combined impact was over 2,300 volunteer hours and more than $100,000 donated to help local communities.
We are also passionate about supporting robust energy assistance programs that offer aid during challenging times. Our Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) is a cornerstone in this effort and has provided over $34 million in assistance since 1983 and supported more
than 320,000 households in times of need. WAFF’s inclusive support helps families manage their needs with dignity and flexibility, regardless of their primary utility source (natural gas, electricity, propane, wood, or others).
Across our region, we help support the principles Dr. King championed so passionately: fairness, service, and the pursuit of equity. We proudly partner with our communities to support moments of need and to work toward providing energy solutions that make life better for everyone.
Dr. King's message reminds us that everyone thrives when we support resilient communities. Our goals include ensuring every household has secure energy and no communities are left behind. We thank everyone who supports his ideals in the DMV.
“Of
all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (March, 1966)
Amid King Holiday Celebrations, D.C. Jail Resident Shameka Hayes Starts Another ANC Term
By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
Over the last couple of years, Shameka Hayes’ life has, in a way, mirrored that of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Like King, Hayes is spending time behind bars, though not for challenging an unjust system. However, in her role as an advisory neighborhood commissioner, she has been channeling King’s energy to improve conditions at D.C. Jail.
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Decades after King criticized his detractors in his letter from Birmingham Jail, Hayes used the written word to secure HVAC repairs, extension of vocational programs and other changes at D.C. Jail. She showed a similar level of intellectual prowess as the member of an award-winning debate team.
In her second term, Hayes might not have much time to carry out her goals due to her upcoming sentencing and transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP). Such circumstances, perhaps, inspired a swearing-in address that sounded like King’s last speech before his 1968 assassination.
“I’ve been disheartened by the slow pace of progress,” Hayes said on Jan. 16 before a small group of D.C. jail residents, Department of Corrections (DOC) officials, elected officials, and D.C. government employees in the library of DOC’s Central Treatment Facility. “But change comes with struggle.”
In her speech, Hayes celebrated her growth as a leader. She also acknowledged her comrades in the ongoing fight for better conditions at D.C. Jail's Central Detention Facility and Central Treatment Facility (CTF).
In 2023, Hayes became the third D.C. jail resident -- and first woman -- elected as a representative of the facility since the passage of legislation granting incarcerated D.C. residents voting rights. She defeated 10 other special election candidates vying for a seat made
Continued on Page 9
“These movements are led by fighters known and unknown,” she said. “Inside these walls are advocates, people who work tirelessly for the same goals. Change may not come quickly, and I might not see the results, but I will fight quickly with hope and determination for a better tomorrow.”
5 At her second swearing-in on Jan. 16, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Shameka Hayes celebrated her growth as a leader and acknowledged her comrades in the ongoing fight for better conditions at D.C. Jail. (D.C. Department of Corrections/Instagram Photo Grab)
vacant when then-Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Leonard Bishop transferred to the federal prison system.
Last November, Hayes won re-election, accumulating nearly 37% of the vote in her bid against five challengers. She said she will continue to live out King’s legacy as she represents her constituents in Single-Member District 7F08, which also includes Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter.
“Dr. King fought for peace, so being in this place, I have to fight for peace,” Hayes, a Georgetown University prison scholar, told The Informer. “I use the things I learned in college, not what I learned on the street. I became more diplomatic. This position helped me [after] being impatient in life.”
The Swearing-In Ceremony that Inspired Those on Both Sides of the Wall
On Jan. 16, one day after what would have been King’s 96th birth-
day and four days before the federal holiday made in his honor, Hayes took an oath of office administered by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Fiedrich. She did so, not in a DOC-issued jumpsuit, but a Black dress, black stockings and gold dress shoes.
During the ceremony, DOC Deputy Director Jacqueline Williams introduced a slew of speakers, including: DOC Director Thomas Faust, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7F Chair Tyrell Holcomb, Ken Boese of the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, Ward 7 D.C. Council office staffer Louis Sawyer, and Charles Thornton, a special assistant in the D.C. Office of Human Rights.
Thornton, a returning citizen who also serves as board chair of D.C. Corrections Information Council, recounted his experiences at D.C. Jail in the 1990s, telling the small audience that he takes pride in helping those enduring similar challenges.
For him, Hayes’ work as advisory neighborhood commissioner paves the way for redemption and rehabilitation.
“It’s really bigger than your normal advisory neighborhood commissioner. You’re…raising the issues of men and women up to a level that gets it the attention it needs,” Thornton said on Jan. 16.“The big responsibility is all part of reentry. It’s about preparing people to come back out and be productive members of society.”
Nathaniel Perkins and Jinmar Fuentes, Hayes’ classmates in the Georgetown Prison Scholars Program, counted among those who celebrated the commissioner’s second swearing-in.
For Fuentes, Hayes’ presence at Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7F meetings helped him further embrace his civic duty. In 2022, while in pre-trial detention, Fuentes voted for the first time, a milestone he said came about as he yearned for more legal knowledge.
“People need to hear what’s going on in our surroundings,” Fuentes told The Informer. “Shameka showed me hope, even at our lowest. We’re just trying to work so we’re on the same page with some understanding about the laws.”
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“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.
~ Dr Martin Luther King, Jr
5 Decades after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. criticized his detractors in his letter from Birmingham Jail, Hayes has used the written word to secure HVAC repairs, extension of vocational programs and other changes at D.C. Jail. (Courtesy Photo)
Elementary School Division
Austin Strauss
5th grade - Bancroft Elementary School
By Austin Strauss
Martin Luther King Jr Essay Contest Winners!
What it Means to Give Back to Others and Why is it Important?
it helped me make new neighbors and friends.
To start off, giving back to the community means helping others towards a common goal or interest such as providing assistance, goods, or opportunity. Why is this important? Community service results in a positive impact on others and builds self-confidence. There is strength in numbers and community service allows you to achieve goals you could not achieve alone. I have witnessed this in my school, sports, and neighborhood.
For instance, last year in the 4th grade on Earth Day, our class volunteered to pick up garbage around our neighborhood. It was important for us to show our respect for our environment. It brought us together and drew other interest as well. While helping the planet
Middle School Division
Serenity Jefferson
8th grade - Charles Hart Middle School
By Serenity Jefferson
African American women face many struggles in today’s world, but some of the most pressing issues they come across are sexual harassment, sexism, trauma, and abuse. While these issues affect all women to some extent African American women experience them in a special way due to a race of gender. To understand how to confront these problems we should have the need to look at the impact they have on African American women’s lives and how we can work to solve them.
Sexual harassment is one of the most common and harmful problems that African American women face even today. It happens when someone makes unwanted and inappropriate sexual comments or gestures. This can occur anywhere (such as work, school, in public spaces, or even at home.) African American women, like many other women are often targeted by people who do not respect them. due to racism and stereotypes about African American women (being more sexually available or less feminine.) they can be treated in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and/or disrespected.
To stop sexual harassment we can create safer places for African American women to speak out. Schools and workplaces should have strict policies against harassment and should provide for both employees and students on how to treat each other with respect. There must be systems in place that allow women to report harassment without fear of vengeance. Most importantly society must challenge the harmful stereotypes about African American women that make them more vulnerable to harassment.
Sexism is the belief that one gender is better or more important than the other. For African American women, sexism is often combined with racism often making it even harder
Another example, during the soccer season, teams organize a food drive on Thanksgiving to help those in need. It feels good to help others and it’s a way of showing gratitude for what we have. It’s a way to showing kindness to people in need of support.
In my school, every afternoon in my English teacher’s classroom, my classmates and I help the teacher clean out her classroom. We feel productive and accomplished knowing that we could take any task she asks. Every year, our school holds a fundraiser with lots of games, foods, and crafts to raise money for a big event for all students regardless of background.
In conclusion, it is crucial to get involved in your community. There are many ways you can provide your time, money, and resources to others. The satisfaction of accomplishment is a reward. Giving back to your community makes your mind and heart grow, and it shows appreciation for what you have. WI
for them to succeed in life. for example, African American women are often paid less than both white women and Black men for the same job. They also face discrimination in job opportunities, with the lessen chances for promotions or leadership positions. also, African American women often have to work harder than their counterparts to prove their worth, facing the constant pressure of trying to meet unrealistic expectations.
To fight sexism we need to ensure that African American women have the same opportunities as everyone else. This means passing laws that ensure equal pay for equal work and that protect women from discrimination in hiring and promotions. It also means pushing for better representation of African American women in leadership roles. We should also encourage girls and young women to believe in themselves and their abilities showing them that they can achieve anything, no matter their race or gender.
Trauma and abuse (whether physical, emotional, or sexual) are common experiences for many African American women. Abuse can happen in relationships, at home, or maybe even in the community. For African American women, there are additional layers of pain due to historical racism and violence that have affected their communities. Many African American women suffer in silence either because they feel ashamed or because they don’t believe that anyone will take their struggles seriously.
One of the best ways to address trauma and abuse is to provide support systems where African American women can find help. It is also important to educate the public about the impact of trauma so that people are more empathetic and understanding. We all should create a society where survivors of abuse are believed and supported, not blamed or ignored. These things can make a big difference in reducing these issues.
In conclusion the struggles of African American women are not unbeatable. Through raising awareness, advocating for policy changes, and supporting the empowerment of African American women, we can address the issues of sexual harassment, sexism, trauma, and abuse. By taking these issues seriously and working together, we can create a world where African American women are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
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12th
By Leah Bagley
The most important issue that African American women face today is misogynoir. Misogynoir stems from slavery and continues to be a part of todays society because of the harmful way people portray Black women. My solution would be a widespread proposal that creates a safe place to share their worries and reconstruct the skewed image of an African American woman.
African American women are presented to the world especially in the United States as angry, emotional, and most of all faceless. They face everyday issues that are common for women as a collective such as unequal pay and being seen as inferior. However, because of intersectionality and them being both African American and women, they face the hardships present in both worlds. For
example, throughout history, you can see this fallacious belief that Black people “can’t feel pain”. In comparison, women often experience loosely similar opinions due to people believing they are always exaggerating their pain. African American women experience a mix of both which is seen in the extreme difference between infant and maternal mortality rates in Black women and other races. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF, as of 2022, infants born to Black women are over twice as likely to die relative to those born to white women with a difference of 10.9 vs. 4.4 per 1,000. Overall, it is common for African American women to be ignored and dehumanized.
Although it is unrealistic to think any solution can immediately cause a shift in both the unconscious and conscious hate against Black women, there can be procedures put in place to allow Black women to feel heard and seen just as much as any other race. In order to begin to solve this problem, I would propose an initiative of different branches and an overall network of resources that African American women can use. For instance, there would be a branch specifically for health where they can reach out medical advice similar to a medical
Essay Winners!
clinic. This would ensure that they no longer must worry about being silenced and dismissed because it would be a program specifically catered to listening and supporting them. It is also essential that the employees and network of people taking part in this proposal are not only Black because this is not a Black issue, because this is an everyone issue. This skewed image of an African American woman has been taught to various races and even African American men. The idea that Black women must struggle is a big part of this taught “image” which is why it is so vital that they are given a safe space to discuss their experiences and brainstorm solutions without being shunned or judged.
My overall proposal to solve misogynoir and the root cause of the skewed image of African American women also includes a rebranding of Black women. This would include illuminating how intelligent, beautiful, and most importantly, human African American women are. It needs to be normalized so that they can experience and show emotions just like everyone else. If the dehumanization of Black women is not acknowledged, their ability to react when they are happy, sad, or angry cannot be accepted just like others’ emotions are. Due to the dehumanization taking place their evolutionary efforts are often overlooked because people are so focused on the inaccurate idea of what a Black woman is. They are revolutionaries, activists, and inventors but most of their stories are not known. The media has slowly started to highlight black history and black excellence yet there are still movies with all-white castes and disbelief when African American women have positions of power. When it comes to the media we consume, Black people, and in particular black women are often not represented accurately or with diversity. The idea of an African American woman rarely ever includes her being a mechanical engineer or the CEO of a multimillion-dollar company. They are not presented as people who have jobs that are still associated with being a man. Instead, their struggles are always highlighted, and they are seen as aggressive. In order to rebrand this inaccurate image of African American women we would have to present the world with an alternative. By choosing widely different women to feature each week it furthers the idea that an African American woman is not one thing. They are not all angry or single mothers. They are the backbone of this country and continue to contribute to the world and history. Unless we as a society gain the courage to confront the misogynoir that African American women face daily, we will not move on as a collective. The next generation will be taught the same as the previous which is that for some reason black women are an object of hate and discrimination. They are showcased as the same character in every movie because people don’t truly know what a Black woman can be and is today, not as a collective but as individuals. My proposal is to rewrite the definition of an African American woman without the tinted glasses that so many have on. They would have a network of trained professionals who openly listen to their voices without judgment to make them feel seen. The world must adjust to the varied image of a black woman without being influenced by the skewed preferences and perspectives of others.
5 Martin Luther King Jr Essay Contest winners Leah Bailey, Serenity Jefferson and Austin Strauss. (Courtesy Photo/Maurice Fitzgerald)
Leah Bagley
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Celebration! BLACK HISTORY
MONTH 2025
From performances to history lessons to tours, there are plenty of exciting M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation events and activities planned throughout Prince George’s County.
For the latest information on Black History Month happenings, please scan the QR code, or visit pgparks.com and search Black History
Celebrate African American heritage with programs focusing on “African Americans and Labor.”
Washington Informer Dives Into MLK Holiday DC
By WI Web Staff
While nationwide celebrations commenced for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 20, The Washington Informer commemorated the life and legacy of the late civil rights leader in the days leading up to the national holiday, partaking in MLK Holiday DC’s annual week of recognition from Jan. 11-18.
MLK Holiday Committee, which is co-chaired by Stuart Anderson and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, hosted a week-long series of events featuring community service, faith-based activism, and powerful displays of solidarity, all culminating in the 20th Annual Peace Walk and Parade on Saturday, Jan. 18.
“We all stand on the shoulders of somebody, right, a whole bunch of people. It's important that we learn these kinds of lessons, because it strengthens us, so we can do some great things, not for ourselves, [but] for other people,” said Anderson at a MLK church service on Jan. 13. “Everything we do is about trying to make sure people get the message of Dr. King.”
From the kickoff event at the 7th Annual Prayer Breakfast to the community clean up on Shepherd Parkway, check out how The Washington Informer staff uplifted the legacy of the renowned figure whose impact remains evident today.
7th
Annual Prayer Breakfast (Jan. 11)
The 7th Annual MLK Holiday DC Prayer Breakfast brought faith leaders, elected officials and local activists to Matthews Memorial Baptist Church to reflect on King’s impact and inspire hope for the future in communities of faith.
“We are Never Alone” Church Service (Jan. 13)
On Monday, Jan. 13, Living Word Church in Southeast hosted an evening of prayer, praise and celebration in honor of Dr. King, which featured musical selections, cultural performances and empowering sermons from faith-based community leaders.
Peace Walk & Rally and Parade (Jan. 18)
Community Clean Up (Jan. 17)
Washingtontians gathered in Shepherd Park on Jan. 17 under a shared mission of service, collective unity and environmental consciousness to clean up the streets in preparation for Saturday’s MLK Peace Walk & Parade.
Amid freezing temperatures, community leaders, residents and social activists rallied together to march from Shepherd Park to the Entertainment & Sports Arena in the 20th Annual MLK Peace Walk & Rally and Parade–a procession that began in 1979 and is deeply rooted in the history of The Washington Informer.
5 (Courtesy Photo/Maurice G. Fitzgerald, MLKDC Holiday Committee)
5 (Mya Trujillo/The Washington Informer)
5 (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)
5 (Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer)
On Jan. 18 spectators filled the Entertainment and Sports Arena to watch the 20th Annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Parade, celebrating the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with this year’s theme: “Commit to the Noble Struggle for Equal Rights.
(Ja'Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)
Dr. Martin Luther King Day
Dr. Martin Luther King Day
Parade and Peace Walk
Parade and Peace Walk
2025
2025
Join the Washington National Cathedral in celebrating Black History Month as we honor the contributions of Black composers.
& UPWARD
Unsung Black Heroes of Classical Music
With musical and spoken word performers including The Denyce Graves Foundation and the Coalition of African-American Performing Arts, under the direction of Michele Fowlin.
HBCU Welcome Sunday Worship Service
Sunday, February 16 | 11:15am
Washington National Cathedral invites you to celebrate our Annual HBCU Welcome Sunday. During this service, the Cathedral welcomes alums, organizations, families, and communities representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Guest Preacher
The Reverend Dr. Raphael Warnock, Senior Pastor, Ebeneezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia
