In the first Freedom Friday podcast of 2024, Chris, Sharif and Ismael  explore the importance of recognizing and addressing the actual structural changes in society advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The hosts discuss the illusion of change and the need to focus on the underlying structures rather than superficial gestures. They highlight the self-reinforcing nature of white supremacy and the need for critical race theory as an investigative tool to identify discriminatory patterns. As the country prepares to celebrate another MLK day, the conversation covers who exactly Dr. King was, what he really stood for, and why our education system and society fails to teach about many of his beliefs.

Takeaways

• Structural changes are crucial in achieving justice for marginalized communities.
• Superficial gestures and emotional reactions often distract from addressing the underlying structures of oppression.
• Critical race theory serves as a tool for investigating and addressing discriminatory patterns.
• Recognizing and understanding the origin of racism and anti-blackness is essential in dismantling systemic oppression.
• Equality should be replaced with a focus on justice, which involves specific remedies for marginalized groups.
• Meritocracy can perpetuate systemic discrimination by ignoring historical and structural disadvantages.
• Oppressors often deny the existence of oppression and attempt to invalidate the experiences of the oppressed.