Something About Change

January 19th, 2026.

Decades after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. first challenged America to rise above fear, inequality, and division, we still debate the value of a day dedicated to his legacy. Yes, even now, some people object to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday honoring a man who fought for justice through the most peaceful means imaginable.

But MLK Day was never meant to be “just a day off.”

It was designed to be a “day on,” a national call to service, reflection, and community action. A day where we roll up our sleeves and help build the version of America Dr. King dreamed of: one rooted in dignity, equality, and shared humanity.

More Connected Than Ever… Yet Told We’re Divided

We live in a world Dr. King could never have imagined: instant communication, global networks, and the ability to reach millions with a single post. And yet, despite all these connections, we’re constantly told we’re more divided than ever.

But that’s not the whole story.

We aren’t as divided as some would have us believe. What we are facing is a mindset, held by a loud minority, that imagines the “American Dream” as a limited resource. A belief that for one person to rise, someone else must fall. That difference is danger. That progress for some is a loss for others.

Dr. King rejected that idea.

And deep down, most of us do too.

What We Really Want

Strip away the noise, and people want the same things:

• To live freely

• To feel safe

• To build a good life

• To leave the world better for our children

That’s not division. That’s common ground.

When Negativity Dominates the Timeline

Even though we’re more connected than any generation in human history, negativity still finds a way to dominate our feeds. Outrage spreads faster than optimism. Conflict gets more clicks than compassion.

I can’t rewrite the algorithm.

But Dr. King left us a blueprint for cutting through the darkness:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Those words hit just as hard in 2026 as they did in 1963.

Be the Light

If we want the world to look different than the one we inherited, we can’t wait for someone else to fix it. We can’t wait for a trending hashtag or a viral moment. We can’t wait for the algorithm to reward kindness magically.

We have to choose to be the light.

Every act of service.

Every moment of empathy.

Every time we choose love over fear.

Every time we refuse to let cynicism win.

That’s how we honor Dr. King, not just with a holiday, but with a lifestyle.

Final Thought

MLK Day isn’t about the past.

It’s about the future we’re still building.

And if we want that future to shine, then today, and every day, we can choose to be the light this world needs.