During January, people across the country reflect on the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose words continue to be invoked in debates over race, immigration, free speech, health care and diversity programs.
King’s quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” did not speak directly to modern immigration policy. But some supporters say his broader messages of justice and human dignity align with contemporary arguments over immigrant rights.
Politicians across the political spectrum cite King’s work, sometimes to make opposing points. Republicans have frequently referenced his “I Have a Dream” speech, especially the passage about judging people by the “content of their character” rather than the “color of their skin,” to argue that affirmative action and other race-conscious policies conflict with King’s vision.
Critics of President Donald Trump have accused him of racism and xenophobia, pointing to comments about immigrants and past policy decisions, including restrictions on travel from several Muslim-majority countries and his opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Trump has denied accusations of racism and xenophobia, often saying he is “the least racist person” in the world.
Still, the question remains: In an America under Trump’s leadership, does King’s legacy still resonate?
Normandy Schools Collaborative Superintendent Dr. Michael D. Triplett said King’s legacy remains urgent in what he called a divided political era.
“In this current moment … Dr. King’s legacy feels not historical, but urgent,” Triplett said. “In a time marked by division, racial tension, coded language and the normalization of cruelty masquerading as strength, Dr. King reminds us that moral leadership is not optional, it is essential.”
Citing King’s example, Triplett said “courage is not loud but consistent,” then reflected on how that lesson continues to guide him.
“Today, I walk with the same resolve that Dr. King modeled,” Triplett said. “And like him, I walk anyway; tired but determined and wounded but unwavering because hope still depends on leaders who refuse to turn back.”
St. Louis Public Schools board member Brian Marston said he often reflects on King’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” delivered the night before King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Marston said King knowingly put himself at risk in pursuit of justice.
“It’s easy to do good when people are cheering for you and giving you awards, but to put yourself in harm’s way to fight for what’s right, that’s heroic, and that’s why Dr. King’s name will live forever,” Marston said.
Syl Peebles Wilson, founder and CEO of her own marketing company, said King’s quote, “The time is always right to do what is right,” remains a personal guide.
“MLK’s legacy isn’t just history to me,” Wilson said. “It’s a standard I try to live by, both personally and professionally, every single day.”
Washington University associate professor Jack Kirkland said King’s message remains a sharp contrast to modern politics.
“King sees the dawn and Trump sees the midnight past,” Kirkland said.
King’s legacy is also tied to free speech, protests and the press, which he used to expose injustice and mobilize support. Trump has repeatedly labeled media outlets as “fake news” and “the enemy of the people.”
Sarah Fenske, St. Louis Magazine’s executive editor, said King’s writings remains relevant because they combine moral clarity with urgency.
“I’m in awe of how he used words to take down injustice,” Fenske said. “It’s striking to me how many of Dr. King’s speeches and writings still resonate nearly six decades after his murder.”
Former alderman and St. Louis American editorial board member Mike Jones, who came of age “in the mid-to-late ’60s,” said he was not initially drawn to King’s approach. As a younger man, he said, he viewed Malcolm X as his “north star.” Over time, Jones said he came to see a shift in King’s message, particularly in the late 1960s, as King spoke more directly about economic injustice and power.
Jones said if King were alive today, he would likely see Trump less as the source of America’s problems and more as a symptom.
“Trump exists because he represents a sizable percentage of white America,” Jones said.
Eric Kendall Banks of Banks Law LLC, said King’s message on justice remains relevant in periods of division and distrust.
“In today’s climate, where distrust and division too often compete for attention, Dr. King’s example calls us back to principle: that justice must be fair, accessible and rooted in respect for every person,” Banks said.
Brandon Ford, a 28-year-old Webster University journalism student, said Trump has “created an unsafe environment fraught with racial tension, especially surrounding immigration.” Still, he said he believes progress requires consistent effort.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.