Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Today, as we observe and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I reflect on all that he sacrificed so that I can do what I do today—helping others create their comics, telling my own stories, and owning a business.
As an African American—or simply as an American, as I believe he would want us to feel—I am honored.
Even though it often feels like we are in the middle of another civil rights struggle today, with everything happening around us, I know that the world is better now than it was when Dr. King was alive. Maybe not by as much as we would hope some days—but progress, even slow progress, is still progress.
It is also important to remember that Dr. King did not only preach peace—he preached action. He wanted us to fight for justice; he simply did not want us to die for it. Many people criticize him for working too closely with white allies or argue that Malcolm X had the right approach. What is often forgotten is that Malcolm X himself evolved, changing his stance near the end of his life before his assassination.
Regardless of how anyone feels, Dr. King—alongside countless other civil rights activists—is one of the reasons we have the rights we do today.
So today, I thank God for placing this man on this path and for giving him the courage to begin his mission. Though the journey forward can feel painfully slow, progress remains progress.
At Bee Terrific Media, our mission reflects that belief. We are not about excluding characters who are not Black—we are about enhancing storytelling through diversity, because representation matters. And that matters because of leaders like Dr. King.
Our characters do not always tell “Black stories,” but they are characters who breathe, cry, laugh, struggle, and grow. They come from all moral, social, and cultural backgrounds—just like real people.
As Dr. King said, “Every Black man and every White man can join hands.” That is the spirit we strive for at Bee Terrific Media.
So today, and always—thank you, Dr. King.
— Terry Jenkins
Editor in Chief
Bee Terrific Media