Remember — and carry on — MLK, Jr.’s commitments

Today is the 48th anniversary of the historic march on Washington, D.C. in which MLK, Jr. gave what has now become one of his most famous speeches — the I Have a Dream speech.

I wish that I could say that we've come a long way since then. I suppose in some ways we have, since the kinds of overt personal racism that were so in evidence then have been outlawed. But the underlying layers of systemic racism, the structural inequalities that existed at the time, are everywhere still in place or even more deeply institutionalized.

I'm deeply conscious of this today, in the aftermath of learning that the East Metro Integration District School Board is actively considering shutting down the EMID schools. The two EMID schools -- the elementary one, Harambee -- and the middle years program, Crosswinds -- are the truly excellent schools both of my kids have gone to. We deliberately sought them out because they are schools committed to full integration, drawing on and providing opportunities to children across the entire east metro area.

I hope my anger at the school board becomes a spur to effective action -- and community organizing is already underway -- but on a day like today, on this anniversary, I am also conscious of my deep sadness that 48 years later we're having to advocate for even the most basic intentional integration in schools.