Renowned civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left a legacy of courage and finding a way to continue combating inequality. That meant making people uncomfortable with their compliancy and trying to find new ways to ensure equity for all.
But moving that mission forward also allows for stories featuring Black excellence and history to flourish.
“People want to see us,” said opera singer Ibidunni Ojikutu. “They want our art, and they will show up for it. So put it out there for them.”
Ojikutu’s comments were part of a panel on Dr. King’s legacy held Saturday, Jan. 18 at Bellingham High School, as part of the ‘United We Stand: Where Justice, Love, and Freedom Prevail’ Day of Service, sponsored by the Community Consortium for Cultural Recognition.
Throughout the morning program, which included a community breakfast and a blessing by Lummi students from Ferndale High School, community members were able to reflect on King and participate in service projects of making blankets and hygiene packs that would be distributed around Whatcom County.
The conversation between the panel was overshadowed by President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration set for Monday, Jan. 20 — MLK Jr. Day. Panelists recognized that under Trump it is more than likely that life for Black and Brown Americans and immigrants will get tougher. But they also encouraged community members to fight oppression locally.
“Look at our unique community, our unique challenges, our unique history and do something about it in our everyday lives,” said Sharaya Lane, the executive director of Recovery Cafe. “Being honest with ourselves and each other about the things that have been happening here, and how we can make those changes on a small scale, day to day, to do something different.”
For Ojikutu, the work done to fight inequity allows for the arts to grow. Not only does supporting art benefit the community, but art transcends time and can allow people to learn more about the history behind the movement.
Ojikutu, as a part of Seattle Opera has had roles in “X: The Life and Times of Malcom X”; and “The Central Park Five,” as part of Portland Opera. But she found her role in “Jubilee” allowed her to focus on something other than stories that centered around Black trauma.
“These stories that we tell are incredibly important, but we are so much more than trauma,” she said, adding she hadn’t been fully aware of the history behind “Jubilee”.
The opera tells the story of the Fisk Jubilee singers, a group of Black singers traveling the country raising funds for Fisk University after the Civil War. During their tour, they faced lynch mobs, but by the 1870s, had reached international acclaim.
“This is a story I didn’t know. There’s so much of our history that we don’t know. There are so many of these stories that we need to tell,” Ojikutu said. “Do not be convinced that the only thing about you that is important is your trauma. There is so much more to us as a people. There is so much more to us as a community.”
Lane added that it’s important to acknowledge the difficult history of the United States to understand the context of Black joy and excellence.
“Without the full acknowledgment and recognition, we can’t understand the fullness of what it means to celebrate together today,” she said.
For those in Bellingham who want to participate in a day “on” during MLK Jr. Day, check out this list of service projects and events on Monday, Jan. 20.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.