Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Epsilon Chapter A Tribute to MLK – Pathways to Peace
Keynote Address
Good evening, everyone, Thank you to the greatest fraternity on earth and the greatest chapter within this fraternity. Social media can be very overwhelming, I don’t Snap, I don’t have TikTok or Facebook. I stick to Linked in for business, Instagram for recreation, and texting and emails out of necessity. I see too many people going down rabbit holes for hours, and I have far too much shit to do for that. I participate in very few group chats. I erase them, I mute them, I do everything I can to run from them. Among the few I do participate in are the black graduates from Detroit Country Day, and Nisus, my sands, crossing on April 9, 1989, after being above ground for 11 weeks. I woke this morning to an active Country Day Chat fueled by one of Dr. Kings quotes shared by Billy Hunter. The quote read:
“We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with Publicity but in love with Humanity.”
I will get back to this but let me first say Congratulations to President Trump on the day of his inauguration. Not because he had my vote, not because I support him, but because I respect the office. I also respect that they cleaned our clocks, a clean sweep of swing states, dominating the popular vote. However, just as much as they ran phenomenal plays, under the leadership of great coaches, we went uncoached, without leadership and with many of our players deciding to sit on the sideline. In that light and in honor of Dr. King, today, I think it’s important to talk about leadership. However today, I also want to talk to you about the risks of complacency and the importance of thinking about legacy as early as today, during your college years.
Leadership is the backbone of progress, and MLK Day reminds us of the extraordinary individuals whose vision, determination, and resilience have transformed policy, equity, the economy and the environment.
Leadership is about more than just today’s effects and results—it’s about creating a legacy. Consider the life of Dr. King, the “Father of the Civil Rights Movement”. His visionary leadership turned Black oppression into Black opportunity, empowering millions of African Americans and establishing the model of cooperative success. Dr. King demonstrated that true leadership is about lifting others and creating systems that benefit entire communities. His work wasn’t about the few, it was about the many. So, what can we learn from the myriad MLK leadership references and anecdotes? First and foremost, leadership demands vision. Leaders see what others cannot.
They envision a better future, identify opportunities where others see challenges, and take decisive action. In the context of industry, this means recognizing the potential for innovation, whether through sustainability, advanced technologies, or new ways to distribute and market products. In politics, it means understanding that a rising tide should raise all ships and that there’s a responsibility associated with being in those coveted rooms where decisions are made. In addition to constantly reminding me that all politics are local, my friend, Jesse Jackson, Jr. instructively shares that the “Political System is the distribution system for the economic system”. This was made very clear this morning as a sitting alongside President Trump’s family on the podium during the inauguration were Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. Need I say more?
Second, leadership requires resilience. All our ecosystems, on campus, in the boardroom, in the courtrooms and rotundas of leadership, experience fluctuating market demands, environmental concerns, and the complexities of managing divergent constituencies. Great leaders embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth and evolution. They understand that setbacks are steppingstones to greater achievements. Resilient leaders inspire confidence in their teams and stakeholders, ensuring that even in adversity, progress remains possible.
Third, and most needed today, leadership has to be rooted in empathy and collaboration. Historically, collective progress has thrived on partnerships between citizens and consumers, both business and elected political leaders’ academics, and policymakers. Effective leaders listen to diverse voices, value teamwork, and strive to create inclusive systems that benefit everyone involved. They understand that success is not a solo journey but a collective endeavor.
As the brothers of Epsilon host and we celebrate MLK Day, let us also honor the many unsung leaders in this industry: the students that protested a war overseas for over a year, your university researchers developing groundbreaking and sustainable technologies, and the students on campus advocating for equity in education and opportunity.
You all can embody the essence of leadership—working tirelessly to ensure that each waking day represents health, hope, and harmony.
To the aspiring leaders among us, let today be a reminder that leadership is not about titles or authority; it is about action, impact, and the ability to inspire others. Whether in the business boardroom, the oval office or community activism, each of us has the potential to lead by example, to innovate, and to contribute to a better tomorrow.
Regarding leadership, let us commit ourselves to practicing vision, resilience, and collaboration in our own lives. Just as a glass of milk nourishes the body, great leadership nourishes the soul of a community, fostering growth, unity, and prosperity.
Now, I would like to talk about the risks of complacency. While we have made undeniable progress since Dr. King’s time, the greatest threat to his vision today is not outright opposition but the silent, creeping danger of complacency.
Complacency is the enemy of progress. It lulls us into a false sense of achievement, tempting us to believe that the fight for justice is over. We have Black’s on campus, when years ago, we did not, We have Black Billionaires when no small shop owner would have imagined and We have Number 44, A Black President.
But as Dr. King himself reminded us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” His words are a stark reminder that the work is never done until all people, regardless of race, gender, or background, can enjoy true equality and opportunity.
It is clear today, as we find ourselves in an environment defined by black and white, left and right, have and have nots and citizens vs migrants, that the work is not Done. The question I pose to you students gathered today, is what the hell are you going to do about it?
For a moment, let us consider the risks of complacency. When we become complacent, we stop questioning the systems and structures around us. We accept the status quo, even when it falls short of fairness or equity. This inaction allows inequality to persist in our schools, workplaces, and communities. It allows discriminatory policies to remain unchallenged. Complacency is not neutrality—it is complicity. Let that sink in…. Complacency is not neutrality – it is complicity. For anyone that said, “I’m not with Kamala, so I’m not going to vote.” You my friend are complicit and will live with whatever the resulting future brings.
Lastly, let me touch on Legacy. Today, we gather to celebrate the life and legacy of one of history’s most extraordinary leaders. We don’t just reflect on the past but also an opportunity to connect with the enduring legacy he left us. Legacy is not simply about remembering someone’s accomplishments; it is about carrying their values forward, ensuring that their vision lives on through our actions.
Dr. King’s legacy is monumental. He was a man of profound courage, resilience, and faith who fought for justice and equality during one of the darkest periods in American history. Through his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King awakened the conscience of a nation, inspiring millions to rise against racism, segregation, and inequality. His commitment to nonviolence and his unwavering belief in the power of love and justice changed the course of history.
But Dr. King’s legacy is more than the speeches he delivered or the marches he led—it is the timeless values he stood for. He taught us that progress requires courage, that silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and that every individual has the power to make a difference. These principles remain as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
As we reflect on his legacy, we must ask ourselves: How are we honoring it? Are we actively working to uphold the values of equality, justice, and compassion that he championed? Or are we merely content to celebrate his achievements without continuing his work, to sit on the sideline, to be complacent? Legacy, after all, is not a static monument but a living, breathing responsibility.
Yesterday, I saw an interview with Martin Luther King, III regarding his latest book, “What is my legacy” He talked about what will be his Legacy versus his father’s realizing that it is impossible to fill his shoes. He, despite immense pressures and expectations, is blazing his own trails, putting in his own work, but still for the greater good.
And this morning, President Trump indicated in his Inaugural address that his legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. My fingers are cautiously crossed.
Today, we live in a world that remains far from Dr. King’s dream. Inequality persists, racism continues to divide communities, and many are still denied the opportunities they deserve. Honoring Dr. King’s legacy means recognizing these challenges and committing ourselves to action.
It means standing up for those who cannot stand for themselves. It means having difficult conversations about the injustices that persist in our society and working together to dismantle them. It means lacing up and getting on the field Dr. King once said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” These words remind us that building a legacy doesn’t require fame or grand gestures. It begins with small, meaningful acts—treating others with respect, advocating for fairness, and fostering unity in our communities. For you, vote and encourage others to vote, encourage your friends to extend beyond their comfort zones to join clubs, take classes and forge friendships. If you don’t like a school policy, tell your regent. If you hear a friend making a racially driven comment, correct them, even when no one else is around.
Each of us has the power to contribute to the legacy of justice and equality that Dr. King envisioned.
Today, let us honor Dr. King not just by remembering him, but by living out his values. Let us strive to be voices for justice, advocates for equality, and champions of opportunity and understanding. Let us ensure that his dream of a world where people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character becomes not just a vision, but a reality.
Nicole Sherrod Freeman, and dear friend and quiet leader in Detroit shared her thoughts this morning. I told her I would share them with you. Nicole wrote:
If we focus on reading the rooms we’re in and strategically playing our cards right, we can use what’s to come for short-term gain and long-game wins. I’m optimistic that what’s ahead will—-if we’re savvy about it— afford us the chance to make some improvements that, in all honesty, are long overdue. Immigration is broken. Education is crumbling. Mental Health is a crisis of untold magnitude. There will be hits below the belt, punches in the face, and crushing disappointments, too…but is that really new?
From King’s 1956 ‘Birth of a New Age’ address Nicole shared:
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity”
Many of the processes associated with Greek systems require memorizing poems. For those of you involved in situations that requires courage, skill, or tenacity, as opposed to someone sitting on the sidelines and watching, being complacent, I close sharing one of my favorites from Winston Churchill:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
I ask you to exit this evening and to go to sleep tonite, asking yourself, are you a leader or follower, will you be complacent, resting in your own comfort or will you be an activist, rooted beyond self-interest on behalf of others. And even at a young age today how are you shaping your legacy.
Thank you.