Growing Our Voices of Our Future
The Westside Gazette Newspaper is honored to feature these editorial contributions made by local students.
By Samara Rawls
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Dr. King was an amazing advocate for the Black community. He wanted to help fight racism against African Americans. Today I have written an article on what he did, and how he has helped Blacks to this day.
Dr. King was a memorable civil rights leader, and he left a great impact on the United States. He worked for African Americans to be treated equally, and how to achieve better economic conditions. Dr. King believed that African Americans should boycott stores in order to improve the economic crisis of the Black community.
“There is nothing quite so effective as a refusal to cooperate economically with the forces and institutions which perpetuate evil in our communities.” Source: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom, May 4, 1966,” Ebony (October 21, 1961). In this passage, King believed that we should not purchase anything from the stores that do not hire African Americans.
Within the past six months of them protesting the companies that do not hire Blacks, the income of the Black community increased by more than 2 million dollars annually.
This is a great idea to protest because it is nonviolent, and racist companies are losing a lot of profit. On the other hand, Black-owned companies would gain more money.
For the month of April, try your best to give back to your community and treat others with kindness in respect of Dr. King.
