Honoring MLK’s Legacy by Transforming Narratives

To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, let’s reshape narratives and advance those that embody justice and equity.

Everyone can agree that a strong, stable economic base is necessary to lead healthy lives and support our families. Yet, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself pointed out during a 1967 interview, America's history of slavery and racism left Black communities without economic resources needed to thrive. Dr King's piercing criticism of individualism underscored an enduring, harsh reality: racism creates immense hardships and disparities that cannot be easily overcome. 

In place of individualism, Dr. King preached connection. In his vision of a “Beloved Community”, care and compassion prevail, and people work together to end hunger, poverty, bigotry, and violence. Many blog contributors are shaping new narratives and solutions that cultivate hope for realizing Dr. King’s vision. From them, we are learning how narratives can advance justice and equity.

Narratives influence policy>>

Given how they shape public perception and influence decision-makers, narratives can impact policy. Economist Darrick Hamilton has discussed the need to counter narratives which suggest that those in marginalized groups can seize opportunity if they work twice as hard. He points to evidence that shows how disparities in health outcomes increase with education and income for Black people. This contradicts the common narrative that ignores persistent structural barriers and emphasizes personal responsibility and hard work.

To undo systemic harms, Hamilton supports policies like reparations and baby bonds that empower Black communities and close the racial wealth gap. He also finds hope in how youth are actively building momentum to change prevailing narratives. 

Narratives support culture change>>

By sharing his experience as a Black father and caregiver, RWJF's Dwayne Curry has aimed to “create a new narrative, and offer solutions to the caregiving crisis that is holding our country back.” As part of this effort, Curry highlights Man Enough to Care, a video series that features diverse caregivers offering a male perspective on caring for others and themselves. In this series from Caring Across Generations, director Ai-jen Poo notes that we can learn a lot from what these brave and honest men share.

Former NFL player Devon Still describes the plight of being a caregiver. Just 25 when his daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, he says that he “grew up really fast.” In the face of an unfamiliar healthcare system and a child with a life-threatening disease, “sometimes I would just break down and cry,” he shares. In his candid description about what it feels like to be a Black man and professional football player learning to provide care, Still admits that at times, he felt that he was failing as a father.

Poo observes how traditional notions of masculinity can make it hard for men to ask for help. “But courage is this amazing thing, it’s contagious,” she says, reminding viewers that sharing personal stories makes care work visible and valued, helping to build support for policies that support caregiving. “That’s how culture change happens,” she adds.

Authenticity is key to a memorable message >>

Anita Chitaya is from a small village in Malawi where child malnutrition has worsened with rising temperatures and severe drought. While Chitaya and her neighbors have demonstrated resilience and ingenuity to combat extreme weather patterns, more families have been pushed into hunger and poverty. Recognizing the dominant role that the United States has played in the intersecting crises, she journeyed to California to meet with both struggling farmers and climate skeptics, and then on to Washington to make a case for policy change at the White House. She shares her story in an award-winning documentary, “The Ants and the Grasshopper”.

Through one determined woman’s deeply personal experience, we better understand the strategies and commitment necessary to build a more just and sustainable world. Commenting on the film’s impact, author Michael Pollan wrote to filmmaker Raj Patel, “You have found a hero of such grace and intelligence and power, and you had the good sense to get out of the way, center the narrative on her.”

Stories that surround us can illuminate new ways of thinking>>

The entertainment industry has a tremendous influence on what enters and shapes public consciousness. That is why amplifying diverse voices to shift the national conversation about equity and wellbeing is a core part of RWJF’s work, write RWJF senior communications officer Isabelle Gerard and research director Mona Shah. Representation in what we watch, hear, and read matters because it widens our lens, allowing us to consider things differently.

Reservation Dogs, exemplifies this spirit of representation. A coming-of-age comedy set on an Oklahoma Native American reservation, it is largely told by Native actors, writers, producers, and directors. Through them, we learn about cultural norms, family rituals, and social challenges as well as new ways of thinking about what influences health and wellbeing. The show has won many industry awards.

Recognizing how important television, films, and other entertainment media can be in shaping people’s perspectives, Gerard and Shah explain, “if you’re in the business of changing the world you should be in the business of changing narratives in pop culture.”

Tap Into the power of narrative

Narratives can help us understand issues that might otherwise feel abstract. The right messages, articulated by the right messengers who understand our diverse communities and can share the realities of their lives, serve as powerful calls to action. These new narratives can prompt challenging, and urgent, conversations that influence hearts and minds and generate support for programs, policies, and practices that advance justice and equity. 

Learn more about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Truth, Repair, and Transformation Journey>>

About the Author

Najaf Ahmad, senior managing editor, highlights stories and perspectives on how the Foundation is advancing health equity in communities across the nation.