Waking up on January 20, 2025 my first thoughts were about the King holiday.
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I looked at a message from Bernice King sharing photos of her father, many alongside family members. In a separate post, dedicated to her mother, King honored the late matriarch, noting how there would be no holiday if not for her mother’s work.
Thinking about the legacy of Coretta Scott King helped me reconsider how my own energy would be better served working within my community to create change and better opportunities for people whose values align with my own. Reflecting on the Kings’ legacy also was a powerful reminder that African-Americans have faced adversity and unjust leadership throughout history. The policies of the current far-right leadership echo the unjust governance of the past.
Thinking about where today stands in history, the America we live in seems so far from King’s dream. On a day when we should be acting in the spirit of King, who devoted his life to equal rights, Donald Trump, a vile, greedy, power-hungry rapist becomes America’s 47th President.
King’s message of love, peace, human rights, freedom and equality stand in stark contrast to the ugly and divisive rhetoric Trump is known for. The philosophies of these two leaders – (heavy on the air quotes when using the term “leader” when referring to Trump) could not be more different.
It’s important not to forget that America has long been considered the land of opportunity for all. But truthfully those opportunities have never been handed to some of us. King and many others died in pursuit of a better life for all humans — not just Black people or poor people or rich people.
While many Americans watch Trump become our nation’s 47th President — so many of us have chosen not to watch the inauguration at all. Instead, we will cherish the memory of what great leadership truly is, keeping in mind some of the wisest words from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
1. On Equality and Unity
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King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech is known for its message of equality and unity. One of his most recited quotes is: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
(August 28, 1963, “I Have a Dream” speech)
It’s hard to choose just one action from Trump that stands in stark contrast to King’s words but we can start with his 2017 reference to certain nations (Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations) as “shithole countries.”
In June, Trump made wild claims that immigrants are impacting the American workforce, claiming:
“They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs, and you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re going to see something that’s going to be the worst in our history.”
More recently, during his September 10, 2024 Presidential debate against VP Kamala Harris, he lied about Haitian migrants in Ohio “eating the pets.”
2. On Truth And Integrity
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King’s philosophies on integrity and character continue to speak volumes about who he was as a man.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
(From his 1963 book, Strength to Love)
While King encouraged people to behave their best despite challenges, Trump is known for being a sore loser, who often refused to admit defeat or wrongdoing. During and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Trump repeatedly made false claims about election fraud, which many viewed as undermining democracy and avoiding accountability.
3. On Service and Leadership
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“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
(Often cited from King’s speeches in the 1960s)
While King’s words and actions have often expressed his concern for the greater good, Trump’s rhetoric and policies often prioritize his personal and political interests, such as his focus on building a border wall and withdrawing from international agreements. Trump is well known for appointing his political allies and wealthy friends to positions — regardless of whether they have the experience or expertise to qualify them.
4. On Violence and Hate
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King is well-known for espousing Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence.
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
(From Strength to Love, 1963)
During the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, Trump’s comments leading up to the event, including urging supporters to “fight like hell,” were widely criticized for inciting violence rather than promoting peace and unity.
5. On Building Community
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While Trump is known for his divisive rhetoric, King helped unify people to create a strong movement.
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
(From a 1965 speech at Oberlin College)
Trump’s frequent labeling of political opponents or critics as “enemies,” such as calling the media “the enemy of the people,” has been criticized as fostering division rather than encouraging unity.
6. On Justice and Injustice
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King was a big believer in fairness and justice.
Another famous quote of his speaks to that:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
(April 16, 1963, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”)
In 1989, Trump took out full-page ads in New York City newspapers calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty after five Black and Latino teenagers were accused of raping a jogger in Central Park. Even after they were exonerated through DNA evidence, Trump stated in 2016:
“They admitted their guilt. If you look at Linda Fairstein and if you look at some of the prosecutors, they think that the city should never have settled that case. So, we’ll leave it at that.”
7. On Truth and Misinformation
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“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”
(From King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, December 10, 1964)
Trump has been widely criticized for spreading misinformation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, in 2020, he falsely claimed:
“It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle—it will disappear.”
8. On Nonviolence and Peace
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“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.”
(From King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, December 10, 1964)
During protests against police brutality in 2020, Trump tweeted:
“When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
This phrase, originally used in 1967 by Walter E. Headley, the police chief of Miami, Florida, was later repeated by other political figures, such as Alabama governor George Wallace, Philadelphia police commissioner and eventual mayor Frank Rizzo, Chicago mayor Richard J Daley and in 2020 by Trump, is historically associated with the violent suppression of civil rights protests. Trump’s use of the phrase was in reference to protests surrounding the murder of George Floyd and was widely condemned as inciting violence.
9. On Service and Sacrifice
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“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”
(From King’s 1968 speech, The Drum Major Instinct)
Trump faced criticism for reportedly referring to military service members who died in combat as “losers” and “suckers.” While he denied the allegations, they were detailed in a 2020 article in The Atlantic.
