The impactful work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains as vital and relevant today as it was during his lifetime. While there's been progress around the world, Dr. King's pursuit of equal rights and opportunities for all people continues to be unrealized.
This year, the United States commemorates the 30th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, 2025. MLK Day was the first federal holiday to honor a national figure who wasn't a president. It's also the only federal holiday established by Congress as a National Day of Service, inspiring individuals across the nation to honor his legacy by volunteering and actively working to improve their communities.
"This struggle for establishing MLK Day as a holiday started in the 1970s," said Nadir Jones, who was named Head of TD Auto Finance (TDAF) late last year. "When I think about the Civil Rights Movement, what comes to mind is what Dr. King encompassed and what he embodied, fighting for the things that were right."
For Oriel McKinney, TDAF Dealer Relationship Manager, in Orlando, Florida, MLK Day is always a day to reflect and act for the betterment of all people.
"This day is a profound reminder of the journey of diversity, equity, and inclusion," she said. "Dr. King wanted to usher in a society rooted in dignity and equality. Today is a call to action. We must all work to build bridges, call out disrespect and discrimination, correct false narratives, commit to allyship, and advocate for all people."
Learn more below about the influence of Dr. King on the lives of our colleagues at TD.
How the words of MLK impact every aspect of life
Nadir, who was born in Savannah, Georgia and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, feels a strong connection to Dr. King, both as a civil rights and faith leader. Nadir's family holds a rich legacy of resilience and achievement. His grandfather, Reverend Matthew Southall Brown Sr., was a prominent civil rights activist in Savannah and an esteemed World War II veteran. His mother, Maxine Andrea Brown Jones, made history as one of the first students to integrate Savannah High School, paving the way for greater equality in education.
"As a child, I had a thirst and a hunger in me to learn more about the movement and its key players," said Nadir, who is based in Dallas, Texas. "It's a part of my fabric."
While so many of Dr. King's speeches have inspired Nadir, there is one quote that he finds himself often thinking about – “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
"Dr. King often spoke about not being able to see the dream," Nadir said. "When he wondered what would become of all of the sacrifices he made, it took him an incredible amount of faith – the toll on his family and the ever-present danger that he lived with all the time. Despite all of that, he effortlessly and fearlessly marched on. When I get tired and think that I can't take on whatever life is throwing me, I think about Dr. King.”
For Nadir, the faith and courage displayed by Dr. King, his grandfather, mother and other family members have influenced everything he does in life, including his career. Nadir frequently remembers Dr. King's quote that "whatever your life's work is, do it well."
"I don't take lightly the color of my skin or the job that I sit in," Nadir said. "It's important for me to represent myself with dignity, with pride, all of the things that Dr. King and my family stood for, that overarching message of love and bringing people together to fight for the equality of everyone."
Coming together to overcome life's struggles
While Dr. King's last speech was given the night before he was killed in 1968, his words have inspired and changed the lives of those born decades after his death, including Ingrid Gomez, Regional Community Manager for Metro New York, TD Bank.
"I was always fascinated with the idea that someone who looked like my friends, family, and everyday person was able to change the world so much," she said.
Ingrid, who grew up in Far Rockaway Queens, New York, was inspired to become an elementary school teacher as a child because of the important lessons in school she learned from Dr. King's life. Her perspective deepened as she became an adult.
"There are always going to be struggles in life, and it's about how we come together and get through that struggle," she said.
Ingrid noted how Dr. King's legacy has influenced her current career path.
"I have a lot of passion regarding community growth, investment and empowerment," she said. "I think about how TD can help provide opportunities for the everyday person."
This MLK Day, Ingrid asks all to take time to consider his legacy.
"Dr. King was a person just like you and me," she said. "He is someone that's remembered in history, but he was also a human being who woke up every day and went to work, just like we do. He felt the same type of things that we feel whether it's fear, hunger, or stress. He truly spoke on how the impact of that made him dream of a better world."
A step forward is better than staying still
For Lucinda Conteh's entire life, MLK Day has always been a celebration of the man as a beacon of hope.
"When change is desired, he showed us that while it may not come easy, a step forward in the right direction is better than staying still and complacent," said Lucinda, who is a Project Analyst for TD Bank in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. "He put his life on the line to make a difference for the future of his children. He wanted to provide a different opportunity rather than what was given to him. Today, I am just so appreciative of his sacrifices so that we're able to live in the world that we do now."
Lucinda feels a connection with Dr. King in that both are graduates of HBCUs and members of Divine Nine/National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations. Dr. King graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the oldest Black Greek lettered fraternity. Lucinda graduated from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc., the same sorority as Coretta Scott King, MLK's wife, and the oldest Black Greek lettered sorority.
This MLK Day, Lucinda will spend the day at an annual scholarship luncheon sponsored by her sorority's Trenton & Greater Mercer County chapter. The luncheon, where high school students are presented with their scholarships, focuses on MLK's legacy and influence. It's a perfect example of Dr. King's legacy to make life better for the next generation.
"Dr. King's life is an inspiration to me as an individual," Lucinda said. "But more importantly, he is forever alive in the history and hopes of this country."