Living the Dream

It was Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s, “other dream.” 

In 1968, King called for a “revolution of values” to unite poor communities across the country. After years of fighting for voting rights and desegregation, King believed true citizenship for Black Americans required economic justice. One of King’s last undertakings, “The Poor People’s Campaign” sought to seek federal funding for jobs, a guaranteed annual income, anti-poverty programs, housing, and equitable education for the nation’s poor. He said it was time to demand a “radical redistribution of economic power.”

His campaign unified poor people of every race. In his speeches and demonstrations leading up the campaign, King was relentlessly criticized and demonized by the media, government and even some Black people for his critiques of the nation’s policies regarding economic injustice. 

King intended to bring thousands to Washington DC to demand legislation to help eliminate poverty. The march was planned for April 20, 1968, but King never lived to see his “other dream” come to fruition. He was assassinated April 4, 1968.

SCLC’s president, Ralph Abernathy continued with demonstrators settled in Resurrection City, a section of tents built on the National Mall and stayed protesting and demanding economic justice until they were forced to close on June 24^th. 

The demands of the Poor People’s Campaign still ring true today. Black are still fighting for equity, equality, and justice in every area of their lives. We spoke with four women who have picked up the torch lit by Dr. King and who honor his legacy in their work, activism, and advocacy in Chicago and beyond. 

‍Illinois State Senator Jacqui Collins‍

For over 20 years, Illinois State Senator Jacqui Collins has fought for policies that reduce inequality, expand opportunities, and strengthen communities. As legislator, Senator Collins prioritized protecting women and children, worked to eliminate food desserts, expanding voting rights, elevated education, and more. Currently ending her term as IL State Senator, Collins says her focus is on policy and social justice as she looks to the future.

‍Rev. Dr. Janette Wilson, Esq

Rev. Dr. Janette C. Wilson currently serves as Senior adviser to Rev. Jesse L Jackson Sr. and National Executive Director of PUSH For Excellence. Dr. Wilson has a passion for equality in education and social justice. She has spent her life hiring, mentoring, employing, and establishing internship programs for youth.

‍Kina Collins

Kina is an activist and nationally recognized gun violence prevention and health care advocate. After running for the United States Congress, Collins recently accepted a position with the Democratizing Philanthropy Project which builds long-term, reliable small donor revenue and a dynamic, engaged base for chronically underfunded, historically excluded frontline organizations.

‍Dr. Ngoze Ezike

Praised for her leadership of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ngoze Ezike was the first Black woman to lead the Illinois department of public health. With a career focusing on equity in health and medicine, Dr. Ezike is now President and CEO of Sinai Chicago, the city’s largest private safety net health system.

‍What’s the most pressing social justice issue facing Black Americans today?

‍Illinois Senator Jacqui Collins

“They're all so interconnected. That really puts us in a very precarious position is the suppression of the voting rights. Today we are in a situation with the rise of the white supremacy and a Republican controlled house. They want to cut social safety networks. Everything is connected to voting and who you elect to any office. This is why every election is important. We have to be engaged again and that means coming together in unity as a Black community. Unity does not mean that we always agree on everything unanimously. It means on the core issues that are important to our survival and our security we should be able to form some kind of unity around those issues. Dr. King was a role model for because without even holding a public office he was able to move policy. His faith informed his definition of where we should go as a people and it has been my faith that has propelled me into public service, to try to give voice to those who have been marginalized, those who have been left out of society, those who have been devalued of words or disrespected and disenfranchised.”

‍Rev. Dr. Janette Wilson, Esq

“I think it's economic investment. The schools that have the poorest children have the least amount of investment in in children in the buildings in the structures. we're constantly talking about equitable funding for public education, equitable funding and equitable allocation of resources, human resources, as well as physical resources.”

‍Kina Collins

“It’s poverty. One of the greatest battles that we have in equity and inclusion is making sure that people have their human rights impacts, proper housing, clean water, clean air, and access to food. When we talk about what Black America is dealing with at the core of it is the perpetual state of poverty that Black people are living in and that our governments and our political leaders are not addressing.”

‍Dr. Ngoze Ezike

“With so many forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman, because it actually results in physical death. I think that's one of the biggest issues that we should be talking about, tackling, and working on.”

‍How are Black women keeping Dr. King’s legacy alive?

‍Senator Jacqui Collins

“Black women are the backbone bone of the Democratic Party. As Black women, we want generational progress, and we take it to heart, what Dr. King put in place. We know the cost and the sacrifices that have to be made that put future generations on good footing.”

‍Kina Collins

“We are the moral compass of this country. Not only are we showing up to the polling places, and bringing folks along with us, but Black women constantly put a mirror up to the face of our government, our leaders in our community. And it’s not just about complaining about things and issues that are occurring in our communities. It's a saying, we have some of the best solutions to these problems, because we're closest to the pain of the problem. Black women serve as a template for how other communities and other demographics can be bold, and audacious and utilize their voice, their voices equity in their community.”Dr. Ngoze Ezike

“Black women are the bedrock of the community. We participate in all of the things that make up the dream; whether it's promoting the health of the family, providing education, helping steer people towards their educational goals, being the breadwinner, providing the economic stability for the family, teaching the culture to ensure it is always uplifted and respected and partnering with others. We have a critical role in everything. It's a wonderful badge that we wear and carry, and we've continued to do it very well and have done it well for a long time.”

‍How do you “Live the Dream”

‍Senator Jacqui Collins

“Living the dream is symbolized by working every day, putting on your battle armor, and going out into the world to make a difference and to raise your voice. Living the dream means getting up every day preparing for the fight.”

 Rev. Janette Wilson

“I'm constantly fighting to change the public policies that negatively impact young people in particular, but poor people or people who are marginalized based on your race and gender. It’s about encouraging others but also opening doors for them so they can help not only themselves but others as well.”

‍Kina Collins

“Hope is a discipline, and it can be overwhelming at times especially, when see other communities invested in and ours not being invested in. When we keep that hope, and couple it with our activism and fight for changes in policy that matters to us, we can achieve anything. We don't take our foot off the pedal, we continue to organize, we continue to build up the black dollar and we continue to keep the legacy of our great leaders alive “

 Dr. Ngoze Ezike

“It's working to get there. It’s always working towards the dream. It’s making sure that people who are actively steeped in this work and on this mission continue to sound the to get more people involved, to get more people to put their money and their efforts towards these important goals of really actualizing and living that dream. I really think that it's about partnership and collaboration. With all the health disparities that have plagued the communities of color for decades, you can’t just leave it on the people of that community to fix it by themselves. Just as Dr. King locked hands with people of all races, ethnicities, and colors to work together to overcome the illness, the poverty, the trauma that some of our communities are disproportionately facing, we must do the same.