A frigid MLK Day in Tulsa did little to stop the Terence Crutcher Foundation from turning it into a day of action.
After marching in Monday’s downtown parade, Tiffany Crutcher led a “Civics 101” presentation to teach about 70 adults and children how state and city government works.
The foundation has been ramping up programs in the last few years to increase civic engagement — from educating voters to canvassing neighborhoods. Crutcher, the foundation’s executive director, said MLK Day seemed like the perfect time to pair education with action.
“We have to truly put his legacy into action. We should make this a day where we educate the people on the political process, on civics, because we know that this coming year is critical for our democracy,” she said. “Everything is at stake, and so if we don’t pull our power together and get people utilizing their voices the right way, then I’m afraid we won’t have a democracy.”
Crutcher said it’s important for people to know how their local government works if they want to affect change.
“I need for you to believe that you get to influence and shape what this city looks like and how it impacts your everyday lives,” she told the group.
Freedmen join foundation to call for racial justice
Last summer, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court granted full citizenship rights to descendants of formerly enslaved people. Known as Freedmen, the Crutcher Foundation invited them to participate in this year’s parade.
“I come, usually every year, but to be able to march with other Creek Freedmen descendants, it just magnifies the purpose of the cause,” said Crystal Turner.
Mikela Campos (Cherokee/Shawnee) said marching helps narrow a divide of separation that people are feeling in the U.S. right now.
“This is what community looks like. It’s showing up when it’s hard and even when it’s so cold, you can’t feel your nose,” Campos said. “As a Native American Hispanic woman, we experience enough hatred. If we can support those who are going through what we go through in any way, it’s important to show up.”
John Kenny has volunteered with the Crutcher Foundation for six years and came out to the parade Monday.
“There’s plenty of reasons in Tulsa to raise the awareness of the injustices that have been done here, specifically in north Tulsa, as well as the injustices that are occurring on a daily basis now across the nation,” Kenny said. “It is a duty for every citizen to be informed civically and to show up civically, and this is exactly what that is.”
Tulsa musician Damion Shade marched with his young daughter, teeth chattering, by his side. Shade said he became involved in government as a result of winning a MLK speech contest in the eighth grade. He believed King, who’s from Stone Mountain, Georgia — the same town as Shade’s dad — changed the world.
“It’s something my daughter needs to know about, and all Americans should be proud of a person like that who was just with his voice,” Shade said.
Tony Williams, also known as Mr. Greenwood, said his work would not be possible without activists like King that fought for his rights.
“One thing people need to understand is that there were whites, there were other races that stood alongside MLK, and that truly was what this day is all about — unity for all of us,” Williams said.
