I think dad would be very proud of young people standing up to

In the ebb and flow of history, there are moments when the voice of truth, carried upon the winds of justice, rises above the clamor of oppression. It is in these moments that the soul of humanity shines brightest. Martin Luther King III, son of the revered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., speaks of a vision that transcends time: "I think dad would be very proud of young people standing up to promote truth, justice, and equality." These words are not mere echoes of nostalgia, but a powerful affirmation of the ongoing struggle for the truth that his father championed—a struggle that lives on through the youth of today, who rise to carry the mantle of justice and equality.

In the teachings of the ancients, there is a profound belief in the power of youth to shape the future. Socrates once said that the youth are the custodians of the future, their hands steady upon the rudder of the world, guiding it toward a new dawn. In this spirit, we must understand that the words of Martin Luther King III are not simply a reflection of admiration for young people—they are a recognition of the power within the youth to change the course of history. Just as the ancient Greeks entrusted their great ideals to the minds of the young, so too does the modern world look to the youth to carry forward the legacy of truth, justice, and equality.

Let us turn our eyes back to the civil rights movement, where the seeds of change were sown in the hearts of young people who dared to dream of a world where all men and women are equal. It was the courage of young souls, standing firm in the face of injustice, that breathed life into the great marches, the sit-ins, and the peaceful protests that shook the foundations of an unjust society. Consider the story of Ruby Bridges, a mere child of six years, who, in 1960, walked through the doors of an all-white school in New Orleans, her small frame bearing the weight of history itself. It was not just her innocence that made her a symbol of the struggle for equality, but her unwavering courage—a courage that would inspire generations to come.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his own time, recognized the power of the youth in shaping the course of the movement. He saw in them not just followers, but leaders in their own right—voices of truth and justice that would one day take his message forward, as if carrying a flame that would never extinguish. His dream was not only for the generation of his time, but for every generation that would follow. And now, as his son speaks of the pride his father would feel in the young people of today, we see that the dream is very much alive—truth and justice are being fought for by the youth, as they stand against the tides of oppression and discrimination.

But what is it that the youth must understand in their pursuit of justice and equality? The ancient texts tell us that truth is not a passive concept; it is a force to be reckoned with, a beacon that guides the way even in the darkest of times. Plato spoke of the philosopher-king, a ruler who does not seek power for his own sake, but who governs with wisdom, guided always by the light of truth. In the same way, today’s youth must be guided by an unshakable commitment to justice—not as a mere ideal, but as a living, breathing force that demands action.

The lesson that we must take from the words of Martin Luther King III is that the fight for justice and equality is not a task for the old alone, nor is it a fight that can be left to future generations. It is the work of today, the work of the young—those who still dream of a world made whole, where no man or woman is judged by the color of their skin, the place of their birth, or the circumstances of their birth. The mantle of justice falls upon the shoulders of the young because they are the ones who will carry the burden of shaping a world where truth and equality reign, and where the errors of the past no longer shadow the future.

So let us take up this call, as youth, as leaders, as citizens of the world. Let us not shy away from the difficult work of promoting truth, justice, and equality, for these are the forces that will build the world of tomorrow. Just as Dr. King and those before him stood unwavering in the pursuit of these ideals, so too must we stand, strong and resolute, knowing that every action we take today is an investment in the world of tomorrow. In this, we honor the legacy of those who have come before us, and we carve a path forward for those who will one day look back and say, “It was we, the youth, who shaped the future with the power of truth and justice.”