The National Day of Racial Healing, observed annually on the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is set for January 21. Created in 2017 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the day encourages people across the country to come together and address the ongoing effects of racism.  

This year’s observance aims to build on the work of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) initiative and inspire collective efforts toward racial equity. Racial healing involves open conversations about past injustices and their continued impact on communities. 

In Detroit, several local organizations are participating in this year’s observance, including Little Detroit Community Garden’s Creative Artists Healing, the Detroit Equity Action Lab’s National Day of Healing from Racism, and the University of Michigan’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium.

Marshalle Favors, Director of Community Engagement at New Detroit, Inc., talks with host Stephen Henderson about the day’s importance in promoting racial healing and equity. She explains how the observance aligns with the organization’s mission to foster racial understanding and advance equity in Detroit.