Class of 2026
I had the pleasure of attending the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Shannon Hall – Memorial Union, hosted by the University’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement. I was excited to hear the guest speaker, Donzaleigh Abernathy, daughter of the late Reverend Ralph Abernathy and goddaughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -two of the most prominent figures in the civil rights movement- speak about growing up in their shadows, sharing how important it is that their legacies live on. Listening to Ms. Abernathy talk about her life and how tumultuous it was to grow up in a time when people not only showed but acted on their contempt and hatred for others because of the color of their skin was gut wrenching. Yet, as soul stirring as her story was, it was just as inspiring to hear how communities came together despite their fear, to affect radical change.
Ms. Abernathy told the story of how her father met Dr. King; once they became friends, they were inseparable. They created a brotherhood, a bond that stood the test of time. They served their communities together, they shared their joy and love for the Lord and served as ministers, and they raised their families together. They were best friends.
Experiencing injustices firsthand was something all Black people felt. The Jim Crow laws were a critical element in keeping Black people segregated. These laws were not just isolated to Alabama and Georgia; but there were many hoping for change. There were some movements and protests that took place, but none as monumental as the Montgomery bus boycott. That boycott was the result of frustrations that all Black people were feeling. Ms. Abernathy told the story of Rosa Parks and that faithful day she was on the bus and how it became the catalyst for the Civil Rights movement. The exhaustion of being a Black person in America with no rights and no freedoms weighed heavily on all. Ms. Park’s defiance that day and subsequent arrest caused many people to reflect and take action.
Ms. Abernathy explained that it was her father that encouraged Dr. King to join in on the protesting of Rosa Park’s arrest and asked him to be the leader of the Civil Rights movement. As she spoke, tears began to well up in my eyes. I knew where her story was heading. The protests, the boycotts, and the changes that were finally making headway were met with resistance from White people who wanted to keep segregation in place to keep people divided into classes, superior versus inferior. As she continued, she explained the more that Black people achieved, the more violence they faced along with allies. Those who were not Black but just as outraged. Her home was bombed. Dr. King’s home was bombed. Churches were bombed. People were killed all because they wanted equal treatment and a chance to be free to exist. Throughout her presentation, she showed pictures she has collected over the years. Pictures in black and white showed just how old they were but what they symbolized feels like they were just taken yesterday.
When Ms. Abernathy spoke about the assassination of Dr. King, she got emotional. We were all emotional. She spoke of how it happened and how her father cradled him in his arms. They were all praying for a miracle. Sadly, miracles aren’t always packaged the way we want them. Thankfully, the works and sacrifices of Dr. King have resulted in true changes and constitutional laws, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
We have come so far, from slavery and the Jim Crow era, but we still have so far to go. It is no secret that the political climate of today has continued to further the divide within the nation. Regardless of what side of the aisle of politics you stand on, there are still people in the United States of America that face racism, prejudice and poverty, and that fact should not be ignored. Several Civil Rights activists have worked tirelessly to lessen inequalities in this nation. Some of them lost their lives while advancing the cause, and now, with the recent dismantling of affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, organizations and their human resources leaders have an even more significant role to play. It is now up to us, as both human beings and as future human resources leaders, to ensure our nation’s Civil Rights leaders have not perished in vain and we are not taken backwards to a time when greatness was only accessible to a certain demographic. Diverse and inclusive work cultures are critically important.
As Ms. Abernathy expressed in her talk, it is imperative for all people of all races to work together to overcome racism and discrimination. She expressed the importance of learning and striving to attain higher education as she talked to a theater of students of UW-Madison, staff, and citizens. And, while I sat in my seat in Memorial Union smiling as though I was making her proud personally, I felt honored and privileged to hear her speak. As a student at UW-Madison studying to earn an MBA with a specialization in Strategic Human Resources Management, she was calling me to action. As a human resources professional, it is my personal responsibility to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion is at the heart of decision making and that everyone has an equal opportunity to advance.