Column: Martin Luther King Jr.'s son has a message for Donald Trump – and for America

It would forever alter America.

On January 6, 2021, citing the large crowd gathered to hear Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic speech, instead of expressing outrage about the violent insurrection that occurred that day, driven by him, Trump boasted about the huge turnout at the "Stop the Steal" rally.

It's a striking contrast – the coincidence that Donald Trump's inauguration fell on the same day as our tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Indeed, Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent advocate for civil and human rights, working tirelessly to achieve economic and social equality for African Americans and for everyone as a whole.

Get ahead of your day. Have the news you need delivered directly to your inbox each morning.

Trump? I'll address that later. However, it's worth noting that the House Select Committee investigating the events of January 6 estimated that Trump's speech drew approximately 53,000 supporters.

I wanted to have a conversation with Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, as his descendant. I asked him about the significance of Inauguration Day coinciding with the day the US honors the life and work of his father.

His response was straightforward: It's through serving.

We've been pondering this for a long time," King said, speaking with me via video from his Atlanta home. "We instinctively knew that whatever the outcome, there would ultimately be an election. And no matter the result, we'll still need to rely on each other and not turn against one another. That's why we convey that through various forms of service.

“You need to make a drastic shift.”

Observed as a national day of service. Under unusual circumstances, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day may overlap.

Former President Barack Obama was inaugurated for his second term on Sunday, January 20, 2013. A private swearing-in ceremony took place on Sunday, followed by a public ceremony the next day, Monday, January 21, 2013, which also happened to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Today, we reaffirm a fundamental truth - that all of us are created equal - the guiding principle that has led us forward through pivotal moments in our history, from Seneca Falls and Selma to Stonewall, and the countless unsung heroes who paved the way, such as those who walked along the National Mall listening to a preacher's words, and a King's proclaiming that true freedom for one person is linked to the freedom of every person on the planet.”

In 1997, Bill Clinton was the last president to take the oath of office on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Clinton pointed out that 34 years earlier, King had spoken at the other end of the National Mall "that moved the conscience of a nation."

With the wisdom of a visionary, he spoke about his vision that one day America would become a land where all its citizens are treated equally under the law and in people's hearts," Clinton said. "Martin Luther King's vision was the American dream. His pursuit is our pursuit: continuing the effort to live up to our true values. Our country's past has been built on such visions and hard work. And it's through our visions and hard work that we will fulfill America's promise in the 21st century.

The U.S. Capitol Rotunda was closed due to forecasts of extremely cold weather.

It's expected that only a small number of specially invited guests will be able to attend the inauguration, which should help prevent comparisons based on crowd size. Hopefully.

When I asked King on Monday if he thought Trump would mention his father's name, memory, or words in his inaugural address, he replied with a wry chuckle: “I haven't the slightest idea.”

But King expressed to Trump a thoughtfully direct message.

What I want from you is not empty words," King said. "I want to see actions. Anyone can talk fast and say a lot of things, but what I care about is what you're going to do to make a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans. As the leader of this country, you've been given a great responsibility to promote freedom and equality for all. You can't fulfill that by stifling people's voices or disrespecting them...You need to make dramatic progress.

“Honestly, I really don't think he'll do that,” King said. “But I do expect that we have to keep pushing him to be the very best version of himself that he can be.”

‘Double down and rededicate’

"King has his own agenda for America. He has his own thoughts on where the country needs to be. He’s creating his own legacy, while walking in the shadow of his dad."

The hope is that people will commit themselves even more to the work, and connect with what the previous generations started," King said. "This is about showing unity in finishing the unfinished work.

Much of the division King refers to falls squarely at the feet of Trump. There's undoubtedly a clash between the ideals and actions of Trump and those of Martin Luther King Jr.

President Trump's policies and promises to dismantle programs that promote racial equality and deport immigrants directly contradict the values that Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. Trump has become an emblem for white nationalists who reject the changing racial demographics of the country. Often, King's words about judging people by their actions and character, rather than their skin color, are distorted by his supporters who take them out of context.

We must continue on.

Almost 60 years have passed since our ambitions began.

King, his wife Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda Renee King are doubling down on their family's mission to bring Americans together and achieve a society where everyone enjoys peace, justice, equality, and love, as envisioned by Martin Luther King Jr.

It all comes down to one key concept: community.

We have to keep going," Arndrea Waters King said. "The truth is, we can't afford to give up or accept defeat.

It is a national initiative the Kings put in place in 2024 to bring people together and give power to communities all across America. However, they are looking for even more from the movement.

They're asking each of us to get to work. The Kings are setting a five-year goal of reaching 100 million hours of community service by 2029, which is the year Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 100.

Devoting time to schools? Yes. Helping clean up your neighborhood? Yes. Working at a food pantry? Yes.

When we see where our nation and world are, it's clear that we still have a lot of work to do," King said. "Each person can do something on their own, but we all have to work together as a group if we want to make our society a better place.

This is significant to King, a man with a larger-than-life name, because like his father, he has big dreams and the optimism that comes from being part of a supportive community, a community that lifts one another up.

I'm consistently asked, 'Have we reached the goal?' King said. "My response is, 'No, we haven't. We didn't achieve it last year. However, every January gives us another chance to start over, and there will eventually be a day when at least some of the elements of the dream that my father envisioned will become a reality.' That doesn't mean we haven't made significant strides and progress, but it does mean, if you were to take a measuring stick, you'd still have to say, 'You know, we have a long way to go to make the vision that Martin King and Coretta King talked about a reality.'

Similar to how I view King, I'm unsure if Trump has the ability to undergo significant change. He has consistently shown us what he is. Trump's moral compass appears to steer him towards a route of contentious retaliations and complaints. His tendency to polarize people is a hallmark of his behavior.

We can do more as a nation and as a community. We can strive to help those living nearby. We can welcome diverse individuals and those seeking a better life. We can teach ourselves about our history and make use of it as a lesson. We can show compassion to those who are different from us. We can stand behind women and children and the elderly. We can provide food to those in need. We can work towards fairness and equality for everyone. We can eliminate hate.

And when Trump places his hand on the Bible on Monday and promises to guard and defend the US Constitution, let's make our own personal promises to fight against the sharp differences that often dominate this country.

We've had a lot of unrest over the past few years," King said to me. "From a logical standpoint, this kind of situation can't be kept up in the long run, but community can be maintained in numerous ways.

Let's get started.

Suzette Hackney is a national columnist. You can reach her at X: @suzyscribe

Op-Ed: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Son Tells Trump – and America – Something