Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Today, his legacy of activism is carried on by those who continue to fight for racial equality and equity amongst all. While many often forget that Dr. King was still a young man, only in his mid-twenties at the height of his advocacy, youth today continue to utilize his strength, determination and refusal to concede in the face of opposition in an effort to change the world.
Mari Copeny, otherwise known as Little Miss Flint, has risen to the occasion of both recognizing and building on Dr. King’s journey. In May of 2016, Copeny wrote a letter to former president Barack Obama where she asked him to visit Flint, Michigan and witness the horrors of their water crisis first hand. To this day, the water continues to holster threatening amounts of lead and cannot be safely consumed by residents. According to Copeny, children have started to develop bad rashes in reaction to the hazardous water. Having been published in the Los Angeles Times, Copeny’s letter brought Flint into the spotlight and consequently, more resources into the community.
Since I know it will be trending soon #FlintTown shows one side of Flint. But we are so much. #FlintKids are leading the way, our city is strong and resilient, and we will overcome all the bad things people say. #FlintStrong #AKidFromFlint #LoveMyCity pic.twitter.com/I2eBf3XfyQ— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) March 2, 2018
In an interview with Blavity this week, Copeny spoken about what inspires her about Dr. King's legacy in her own journey in activism.
“Martin Luther King Jr. helped to build a world where I can now thrive in,” Copeny said. “As a kid, I stand on his shoulders and know that he helped to pave the way for me to lead and dream as big as my mind allows me to.”
Copeny’s dreams have led her to develop a platform championed by both adults and children throughout the world, bridging people together toward a common cause. She has fearlessly become a youth ambassador for the Women’s March, Equality for Her and the Climate March. She is also an anti-bullying advocate.
“Dr. King proved that speaking up and standing for what you believe in could make real change,” Copeny said. “I want to change the world and knowing all that Dr. King did motivates me to dream big and fight for what I believe in.”
As Little Miss Flint, Copeny has not only placed the Flint Water Crisis in the spotlight, she has also continued her dedication to Flint residents and kids by hosting a backpack drive that successfully distributed over 1,000 backpacks to Flint students as well as orchestrating a Christmas party which gifted $13,000 worth of toys to 500 kids in her community. She has also raised over $16,500 for Flint kids to see “Black Panther” and over $11,000 for “A Wrinkle in Time.”
I do it all for them #FlintKids they are the real heroes. #BlackPantherChallenge #BlackPanther #DearFlintKids #NextUp #AWrinkleInTime pic.twitter.com/6lhDU3Ljw8— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) February 21, 2018
My #FlintKids screening for #WrinkleInTime was a success. Will be popping up all over town this week to deliver books and movie gift cards so even more can see this movie. And yes I'm dressed like @stormreid of course @ava @Oprah @WrinkleInTime #wrinklechallenge #FlintTown pic.twitter.com/Rstw4MHx5p— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) March 12, 2018
“I do it for the kids in Flint,” Copeny said. “When the water crisis made news, I wanted to fight for my younger brother and sister, and for all the kids in Flint that couldn’t speak up for themselves yet. Flint kids are amazing and I want to make sure they are able to know that they are survivors and not victims, and that they deserve the world.”
Though she is only 10 years old, Copeny has made a name for herself within activism, and has become a figure for all to look up to. Four years into the Flint crisis and Copeny is still demanding the right to clean water within her community. She has started a fundraiser selling ‘Four Years Forgotten’ shirts for buyers to wear in unison on April 24th to commemorate four years of no clean water. With this project, she hopes to keep awareness about the crisis in the spotlight and will direct proceeds to initiatives throughout the community.
“It’s hard to believe that so many people look up to me, from little kids to adults that are 8 [to] 9 times my age,” Copeny said. “It’s incredible to know that I am a role model to so many kids that are my age. I get to show everyone, especially other kids, that kids can change the world.”
Though not quite 10 years old, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was also young — just 26 years old — when he marched on Selma. Despite this youth, he is remembered as the man who lead the Civil Rights movement, coordinated the Montgomery Bus Boycotts and helped build a day where his dream of little Black and white girls and boys could sit together in the same classroom. His legacy has unlocked doors for others to walk through with a confidence in search of their own key for the next one.
“I hope that my legacy will show kids that they are capable of changing the world now; that their voice matters and that if they think there is something wrong in the world, they can fix it,” Copeny said. “I hope I am seen as one of the kids that proved to the world that kids voices do matter and that we need to listen to the kids.”
