NNPA NEWSWIRE — According to Dr. King, in order to create a beloved community, the American people must handle three major societal evils: racism, poverty, and war. My former colleague and friend, the late John R. Lewis, probably Dr. King’s most passionate student, frequently cited the idea to support his demands for a “just society.” John was dedicated to the goal, but I had always wondered if it was even feasible until lately.
By Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC)
Martin Luther King, Jr. travelled to Ghana in 1957 to celebrate the country’s freedom from British rule. When he returned home, he preached a lecture titled “The Birth of a New Nation,” in which he proposed a post-Jim Crow society in this nation. “The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community,” he added. He compared a beloved society to a prosperous nation.
According to Dr. King, in order to create a beloved community, the American people must handle three major societal evils: racism, poverty, and war. My former colleague and friend, the late John R. Lewis, probably Dr. King’s most passionate student, frequently cited the idea to support his demands for a “just society.” John was dedicated to the goal, but I had always wondered if it was even feasible until lately.
The Biden-Harris Administration has set important foundations for addressing the three great sins and undoing the cumulative effects of systematic racism in our communities. Their efforts, as well as the reaction of the American people in the November elections, have strengthened my belief in such a prospect. President Biden has led a “whole-of-government” strategy, ordering all federal agencies to create policies that make America’s grandeur more available and cheap to all people, regardless of skin colour.
Racism is a clear and present threat to our “pursuit of a more perfect Union,” and the Biden-Harris government is taking action to combat it. Recognizing the significance of environmental justice to marginalized communities, the Biden-Harris Administration introduced the Justice40 Initiative, which directs 40% of federal funds to neglected communities that are particularly impacted by pollution.
The Biden-Harris Administration has started to address racial disparities in our health-care system as part of their attempts to tackle racism openly. My father used to say that if you don’t have your health, you have nothing. President Biden signed the PACT Act to make it simpler for soldiers suffering from adverse effects from contaminated water, burn pits, and toxins to receive the treatment and compensation they deserve. Given that approximately 43 percent of active-duty military personnel are people of color, this will assist our Black soldiers and their loved ones in receiving equitable health treatment.
Poverty reduction, King’s second great evil, is a top concern for the Biden-Harris Administration. The American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Bill, and the Inflation Reduction Act have produced millions of chances for Americans to advance in their careers. President Biden’s emphasis on student loan debt relief will alleviate over 1.6 million vulnerable debtors of the excessive economic weight of student loan debt. It will also restructure payments arrangements to make them more appealing to borrowers.
One of the fastest and most sustainable paths out of poverty is to own a home. President Biden’s Housing Supply Action Plan aims to close the housing supply gap in five years by boosting supply and maintaining the availability of affordable housing across the nation. There is a significant disparity between the supply and demand for cheap housing. Closing this disparity will result in more affordable renting and ownership choices for low- and middle-income households.
The Biden-Harris government has not ignored Dr. King’s third evil, war. No one will soon forget the pictures of police officers equipped with military-grade equipment in towns across the nation during recent racial justice demonstrations. Police militarization is a practice that endangers ordinary people and leads to aggressive enforcement.
The bipartisan Safer Communities Act reforms enforcement by spending in violence interruption money and mental health programs for children and families. The legislation includes more than $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives, empowering communities to break the cycle of violence by acting on behalf of those most likely to perpetrate crimes requiring police intervention. Similarly, instead of armed police officers, strengthening programs and organizations that can help avoid and react to emergency calls could prevent incidents from turning violent.
President Biden issued an Executive Order in 2022 titled “Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Improve Public Trust and Safety.” This order requires all government law enforcement organisations to revise their use-of-force policies and demands the reporting of police misconduct and use-of-force events. Federal agencies are now prohibited from transferring or selling military weapons to state, municipal, and indigenous law enforcement agencies, reducing the militarization of our local police forces.
To pursue a more perfect union, we must accept Dr. King’s vision of a fortunate community and face the inequities that have thwarted that quest for centuries. As members of Congress, it is our solemn responsibility to introduce legislation that advances liberty and fairness for all. Despite our achievements, much work needs to be done. As we stop to remember and enjoy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy, we hope that as we progress beyond this year’s celebration, we will review the concept of a cherished community and dedicate ourselves to making his goal, the American goal, a reality.