Keep going.

That’s what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 2026. A day that demands more than acknowledgement. A day that demands our full attention.

At FUNKY BROWN CHICK, Inc., we transform data into action, turning digital strategies into real-world change. But sometimes the most powerful action is a pause. A deliberate step back to sharpen our focus on what matters. A moment to reflect on the progress made by those who came before us, and to prepare to move forward in the footsteps of historic leaders like Dr. King.

That’s why our offices will be closed on MLK Day. Not as a gesture, but as a commitment to reflection, to learning, and to recommitting to justice-driven work that doesn’t end when the headlines fade.

Old Battles, New Battlegrounds

The battlegrounds have shifted since Dr. King’s time, but the core fights remain familiar. Voter suppression persists, now not only through voter purges and closed polling places, but through digital means: algorithmic bias, digital redlining, and targeted disinformation campaigns that exploit online platforms. Healthcare inequities remain deeply rooted, though a digital flood of shared stories and mutual aid has made it clear we are not alone in these battles. Basic human rights continue to be challenged, particularly for immigrants of color, yet social media has illuminated injustices that once might have remained hidden and denied.

These struggles intertwine just as they did in Dr. King’s era. When reproductive healthcare facilities close, they disappear first in communities already fighting for clean air and water. When voting rights erode, they vanish most quickly in neighborhoods struggling for healthcare access. The same areas targeted by environmental racism are also subjected to the heaviest digital surveillance and online manipulation.

What has changed, however, is our ability to see these connections in real time—and to organize across them. Today’s tools allow us not only to witness injustice but to map its patterns, amplify marginalized voices, and build coalitions that cross geography and identity. 

While the battlegrounds may be new, so too is our collective capacity for resistance. In recognizing how these fights intersect, we move closer to the kind of justice Dr. King envisioned—one rooted not in isolated victories, but in sustained, shared progress.

The Power of Strategic Resistance

Dr. King never just marched. He moved with intention. He chose each moment, each action, each word to maximize impact. His resistance wasn’t passive; it was strategic. 

Today’s advocacy demands that same carefulness, that same intention. Every social media post, every dataset, every online campaign must serve a larger vision of justice.

During the Birmingham campaign, Dr. King used the power of media coverage to expose brutality. Today’s justice movements use data visualization to reveal systemic inequities that otherwise might remain abstract or dismissed. Digital strategy and effective narratives turn statistics into stories that move people to action.

Our “Three Acts of Justice” report shows how this works: when reproductive rights were stripped away, digital organizing helped build new networks of care and resistance.

Reclaiming Our Stories

But data alone doesn’t drive change–stories do. Dr. King knew this. He painted pictures of dreams deferred and children denied their birthright of dignity. When he spoke of the “fierce urgency of now,” people felt that urgency in their bones.

The civil rights movement succeeded because it controlled its own narrative, refusing to let others define their struggle. That’s the kind of authentic storytelling we need in 2026.

Every victory in our “Three Acts of Justice” report shares this common thread: communities finding ways to tell their truth, their way, no matter what forces align against them.

From Reflection to Action

So yes, our doors will be closed on January 19th. We’re choosing to honor a different kind of oath–the one Dr. King made to justice, no matter the cost. 

The King Center’s 2026 theme, “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way,” feels less like a slogan and more like a call to action in this moment.

While we step back from our desks, we invite you to step forward in ways that matter:

• Join in on the many King Center events taking place this month. 
• Share verified information about immigration rights and reproductive healthcare access. 
• Counter disinformation by amplifying authentic voices from impacted communities. 

There’s a reason some want to discredit this holiday, but we know this day demands accountability. Take this opportunity to fight back.

Your Voice Matters

When we return on January 20, we’ll bring with us renewed clarity about why we fight. Because Dr. King showed us that change doesn’t just happen—it’s pushed forward by communities brave enough to demand better, supported by organizations committed enough to keep showing up, and protected by movements strong enough to weather any storm.

If you’d like to connect with us once we’re back, drop us a line at smile@funkybrownchick.com or give us a call at +1 (202) 643-3492.

Let’s keep going together.