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. His vision challenges us to imagine what's possible when we recognize our shared humanity and believe in our collective power to create positive change. Many blog contributors are showing what this looks like as they shape 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, and pave the way to a future where health is not a privilege for some, but a right for all.

Narratives influence policy>>

Given how they shape public perception and influence decision-makers, narratives can impact policy. Economist Darrick Hamilton has highlighted how deeply harmful narratives—like the myth that hard work alone can overcome structural barriers—perpetuate inequities. He points to evidence that shows how disparities in health outcomes increase with education and income for Black people. 

To address systemic harms, Hamilton supports bold policies like reparations and baby bonds which acknowledge and address the structural roots of inequities, empower Black communities, and close the racial wealth gap. He also finds hope in how younger generations are actively building momentum to change prevailing narratives. 

Narratives support culture change>>

The narratives we share, hear, and believe shape our culture. 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.

For example, NFL player Devon Still describes how caring for his daughter during her battle with Stage 4 cancer changed his life. Just 25 when his daughter received the diagnosis, he says he “grew up really fast.” The stress of navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system with his child meant that “sometimes I would just break down and cry,” he shares. 

Poo observes how traditional views 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 shown 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. Reflecting 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 tremendous influence over 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 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 the role of television, film, and other entertainment 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. They remind us of our shared humanity and show us how we can meaningfully create change. When the right messengers share the right messages, narratives can become powerful calls to action that influence hearts, minds, and even policies that advance equity and justice. Dr. King's vision of the Beloved Community can live on in the narratives we shape by inspiring hope and paving the way to a future where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to thrive. 

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.