I love when my daughter’s teacher sends home the work they’ve done throughout the week. Last week they learned all about Martin Luther King: how he was a leader, what he fought for and how he had a dream. While I encourage adults to do a deep-dive into MLK’s legacy beyond his “I Have a Dream” speech, I think it’s one of the most important moments in history a child can learn. So I was so happy when my daughter came home excited to share what she had learned. She is four years old, but that didn’t stop us from having a meaningful conversation about MLK.

At the end of the school week, they all filled out what their dream was. My daughter wrote on her worksheet, “I have a dream that MLK would never have died”.

I sat with this for a while, struck by the thought of him still being alive to witness what our society has become. What would he think of the MAGA movement? What politicians would he embrace to make meaningful change? What ideologies would he reject? What ideals would he still hold dear? And would the people who quote him the most welcome his attempts for continuous social change or would they villainize him the way they do so many others who are on the opposite end of their belief system?

We often see people quote MLK saying that we shouldn’t judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. While this sentiment is admirable and one we should all live by, the reality is that we don’t.

If character truly mattered, would we really be swearing in a man to lead the country who has shown us time and time again his profound lack of character or moral compass? Would so many of those in positions of influence look to kiss the proverbial ring to curry favor in the pursuit of money? Would we have politicians who preach family values but nonetheless try to control who others can marry? I think MLK was right to say, “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice, not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.”

What would being in love with humanity look like? Advocating for the rights of others. Fighting to end racism. Ensuring kids can attend school without fear of being shot. Providing access to quality education and affordable healthcare to everyone. Fostering empathy among all Americans.

We’re fortunate that MLK’s words have outlived the man himself. But honoring his legacy means staying true to those words by leading with character and focusing on our shared humanity. And by doing so, we just might make America great.

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Malynda Hale is a multi-hyphenate content creator in Los Angeles. She is an award-winning actress and singer who utilizes her voice through activism in digital media. Most recently she starred in the feature film Bull Street alongside Loretta Devine and Amy Madigan and made her directorial debut with the short film Curtain Call that has screened at film festivals across the globe. She has been a featured commentator on CNN and ABC News Live as well as a guest writer for The Daily Beast, Blavity and The Female Lead. She was named by Wired as one of the top influencers affecting the 2024 election, and has been featured in LA Times, on Good Morning America and NPR’s Marketplace Tech. She’s the owner of the entertainment production company JMV Entertainment and creator of The Black Voices Heard project.

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