In technology companies, fellow workers and customers often span the globe representing a spectrum of races, backgrounds, and nationalities. Look around the walls of your own US-based office and across the halls of your global offices, and you will probably see many races and nationalities at your company.
Martin Luther King Day was signed into law in 1986 as a United States federal holiday to commemorate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To some, this day is just another Monday, the beginning of another week. But to others, this is an extraordinary day. It’s a day that reminds us that merit of our performance and content of character, not color of our skin is what matters. It’s a day that celebrates courage and efficacy of non-violent activism. It’s a day that inspires us to be better citizens of the world and champions of justice. It’s a day that reminds us that as privileged people by virtue of the fact that we work in technology, our responsibility to support human rights and to combat inequality in all forms–political, economic, racial–extends beyond our borders.
We should celebrate that we live in a country where such ideals matter. And we should nurture such ideals.
By inspiring individuals to improve their own character, your company as a whole will be better off. It will give you a collective moral high ground to see new vistas of opportunities where others do not. It will inspire you and your employees to do the best in all facets of life and work. A majestic vantage point will become a competitive advantage as the image of your company will be elevated in the eyes of your customers and in the eyes of fellow technology workers. You will attract the best people if you have the best character.
Some of your competitors already celebrate MLK day, giving employees the day off, and they even go so far as to customize their logo and home page commemorating MLK day. This might be a token marketing ploy–flag wrapping–to curry good will, but artifice or not, it speaks volumes about the recognition, accountability, and stewardship some companies feel when it comes to inspiring potential, positive impact on public consciousness.
To be clear, Martin Luther King wasn’t perfect. Womanizing and plagiarism for sure. Lincoln, Jefferson, and Gandhi weren’t perfect either. But the ideals they all stood for– liberty, freedom, justice, and equality–are incontrovertible. So make your company one of the one out of three companies (in 2007 33% of companies celebrated MLK day) to celebrate the indomitable righteousness of equality.
Today I am taking a float day today to reread “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and to watch Dr. King’s epic “I have a dream speech”. I hope others do the same.
To be a great company, you need to recognize, fight for, and celebrate justice. And that movement begins by mounting small steps of liberty. If you are motivated by enlightened public interest, then once a year (at least), “Let freedom ring” at your company
Elastic Data 
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