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MLK’s “I Have A Dream” speech, although aspirational, was something I was taught was attainable through hard work and determination.
One vivid memory I have from my childhood is participating in America’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. I was six and living with my family in Harvard, MA; we had moved there the previous year from the Washington, DC area. Although we were one of a handful of Black families, we felt welcomed and accepted for the most part. I recall my grandparents, great aunt, aunt, uncle, and cousins driving up from DC to celebrate July 4th with us and attending the bicentennial parade in the center of town. Just 13 years since MLK, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, we were three generations of African Americans proudly celebrating America’s bicentennial with the belief that we were moving closer towards that “beloved community” King so often spoke about.
This year, as the world rang in 2026 and the United States kicked off its year-long 250th anniversary celebration, I found myself a little guarded in my optimism, perhaps for the first or one of a few times in my life. And whatever optimism I had has been tested following the murder of Renee Good and all that has transpired in Minneapolis over the last three weeks. We have lost measurable ground on realizing the “beloved community” that a mere 50 years ago seemed possible.
While we could spend time asking ourselves ‘what happened’ and ‘why’, it is important that we each ask ourselves as members of the LZF community, ‘how do we leverage our unique roles as bridge builders to realize LZF’s vision for more just and equitable (i.e., beloved) communities throughout eastern Massachusetts for all’? This is the moment. We need to do more than just talk about it. It is time we step up and do something.
In solidarity,
Allison E. Picott, Executive Director
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