The “times” we live in today are difficult, but familiar. They are marked by division, fear and uncertainty, but also by an enduring potential for hope and transformation.
Dr. King said, “Evil and fear carry within them the seeds of their own destruction,” a truth that Amb. Andrew J. Young reminded me of this recently. Fear has always tried to step into the void, but hope has always arisen to meet the challenge. It is the common thread of our history, a testimony to the resilience and capacity for renewal of our nation.
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]We’ve been here before. In the 1960s, the assassinations of Dr. King, Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy, and John F. Kennedy tore apart the soul of America. The loss of these leaders created a void of hope, but the civil rights movement persisted. Out of these tumultuous times came significant progress: the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the eventual recognition of Dr. King’s birthday as a national holiday. But this progress was not inevitable; it was forged through struggle and determination to rise above fear and division.
The 1860s provide another example. The Civil War represented the ultimate fracture of our nation, but it also sowed the seeds of a new beginning. Abraham Lincoln, a Republican president, ran with an anti-slavery agenda (in fact, it is a strangely little-known fact that the Republican Party was himself born on an anti-slavery and social justice platform in 1854, in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which sought to expand slavery into previously prohibited territories. It was a classic work of social justice leadership (circa 1850s), paving the way for the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment. Nearly a century later, President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, found himself facing an often unsupportive Congress (from both Democrats and Republicans) in passing the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. These leaders, although from different eras and political parties, shared a commitment to justice and unity that transcended partisanship.
History is long, as Dr. King observed, but it moves toward justice, but not without the efforts of individuals willing to work together. Even in moments of withdrawal or apparent reversal, progress has found its way.
Consider the trajectory of affirmative action. After Dr. King’s assassination, the fight for affirmative action shifted from African Americans to women or, sometimes, to nothing at all. However, unexpected leaders appeared to take up the torch. President Richard Nixon, often remembered for his political conservatism, formalized affirmative action policies, championed environmentalism, and advanced women’s rights. Likewise, President Ronald Reagan, working with the King family and cultural icons like Stevie Wonder, signed legislation establishing the MLK holiday.
Who could have predicted that these leaders, from different sides of the political spectrum, would contribute so significantly to the cause of justice?
This spirit of bipartisanship and collaboration is a hallmark of American progress. George HW Bush recognized my work in underserved communities, working with Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles, California (a prominent Democrat at the time), by awarding me a foundational grant of $61,000 to establish the Operation HOPE after the Rodney King riots in 1992. He later joined forces with President Bill Clinton to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His son, President George W. Bush, worked with me to make financial literacy federal policy and made historic progress for Africa. And the administration of President Barack Obama, at my request and at the direction of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Wally Adeyemo, renamed the U.S. Treasury Annex building the Freedman’s Bank Building – a powerful symbol of Lincoln’s vision for of economic equity.
Learn more: How Americans Can Fight Political Division Together
These stories remind us that we all need each other. This has been the enduring truth of our nation’s journey. When we work together, we achieve not only good things, but great things. We transcend the limitations of our individual perspectives and create lasting solutions.
It’s not just about history; it is a call to action for the present. In 2025, we must reaffirm our commitment to the table of brotherhood envisioned by Dr. King and civil rights activists. We need to sit down with those with whom we disagree, not to argue but to listen and find common ground. A commitment to “enlarge the table and add a seat,” to quote my friend Stéphanie Ruhle. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less than a world built on hope, not fear. As human rights activist Dr. Dorothy Height often said, we need “leaders and dreamers with shovels in their hands” – ready to work to build a better future and a ladder of opportunity for us all.
Dr. King’s dream wasn’t just about the decency we show each other. Disagree without being disagreeable. These values remain as relevant today as they were in 1963. They challenge us to look beyond our differences and focus on our common humanity.
As I reflect on these lessons, I remember a question I was once asked: Would I go to dinner with Presidents Clinton and Bush? My response was immediate. For President Clinton, it was “what time?” » For President Bush, the question was “why?” » But in both cases, my answer was yes. Because dialogue, even with those who see the world differently, is the first step towards understanding and progress.
The times we live in today demand the same openness, courage and commitment to unity. Fear may knock at the door, but hope must answer. Division may tempt us, but collaboration must prevail. And when we work together – truly together – we can achieve the seemingly impossible.
