Tue Jan 21 06:54:48 UTC 2025: ## MLK Day: A Reckoning, Not a Celebration, Amidst Ongoing Systemic Racism

**St. Louis, MO – January 20, 2025** – On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a stark contrast exists between the idealized dream of racial equality and the harsh reality of persistent systemic racism, argues Mike Milton, founder of the Freedom Community Center in St. Louis. Milton’s commentary, published today by the Missouri Independent, uses the juxtaposition of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the current political climate to underscore the urgency of confronting racial injustice.

Milton contends that MLK Day shouldn’t be a mere celebration, but a day of reckoning. He highlights King’s powerful call for justice and dismantling oppressive systems, emphasizing that King’s vision was not passive but a fiery demand for radical societal change.

The author points to the disproportionate incarceration of Black Americans as a prime example of ongoing systemic racism. He criticizes the criminal justice system, stating that it “does not protect, they destroy,” and calls for more than superficial reform, advocating for systemic overhaul.

Milton proposes transformative justice as a path forward, defining it as a vision that holds everyone accountable, addresses harm collectively, and centers healing and reparations. He contrasts this with the notion of passive forgiveness, which he argues is a tool of oppression, demanding instead a radical act of truth-telling and confrontation.

The article features the story of Keisha, a Black woman shot in her neighborhood, to illustrate the lived experience of systemic violence and the healing power of community support outside the failing state systems. Keisha’s experience, Milton argues, demonstrates the need for community-led initiatives like the Freedom Community Center, which prioritizes building safety, belonging, and accountability outside of a system that often fails to protect its citizens.

Milton concludes with a call to action, urging readers to embrace King’s legacy and commit to building a world based on shalom – a concept encompassing justice, peace, and healing – through transformative justice and community-based solutions. He emphasizes that community is not just where we heal, but how we transform, making Keisha’s story a symbol of hope and the beginning of a movement for lasting change.

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