In Recognition
WARNING: This is going to be political
Today, the United States recognizes the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.—a man who saw the unjust practices embedded in the fabric of this country. He stepped forward to begin a movement that sought to right so many wrongs. He spoke out, he led marches, and he inspired millions to question the power and priorities of a nation.
I find inspiration in many of his words and actions. Was he perfect? No. Do I agree with 100% of his beliefs? No. Did he have a profound and positive impact on underrepresented people in the United States? Yes.
I used to believe that the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, once begun, could never be stopped. Today—on the very day the U.S. claims to honor him—I am sad to say I was wrong.
In 2024, a majority of voters elected a white supremacist to be president of the United States. They knew exactly what they were choosing. He did not suddenly become someone else after leaving the White House. He has a long, documented history of racism, sexism, misogyny, and queer-bashing. He is what he is, and he makes no effort to hide it. So where does that leave us today?
Trump’s administration—along with Republicans in Congress and the Supreme Court—has dragged the United States back more than 80 years. Along the way, they have trampled on every aspect of MLK’s dream that became a reality. They have dismantled Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. They have issued executive orders reducing gender identity to two options on government documents and have dishonorably discharged thousands of service members solely because they are transgender. And their agenda is far from complete. Their goal is clear: to eradicate members of underrepresented communities.
Let’s make a brief comparison between the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize loser, Donald Trump.
King recognized the unjust systems that restricted civil rights and social mobility. He spoke out against a government committed to maintaining the status quo. He encouraged nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. He worked to correct more than 200 years of injustice. He sacrificed for what he believed the United States could be—a nation for all. He did not seek wealth. He did not seek vengeance against those who opposed him (yes, even Trump is on record disparaging MLK). Ultimately, King paid the ultimate price for his vision: his life. However, his work continues through the efforts of his family and The King Center.
Trump, by contrast, was born into wealth. He inherited his money from his father. He did not build it. He has never held a real job. He routinely demeans and demoralizes others when he doesn’t get his way. Just this weekend, he levied a 10% tariff on Greenland and European countries that support Greenland. He has used military force against U.S. residents and citizens—a tactic that has not historically ended well for presidents. He has claimed that the outcomes of the Civil Rights Movement resulted in “reverse discrimination” and that “whites are being treated very badly.” He surrounds himself with known white supremacists such as Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon.
The only thing Trump has done—and will continue to do—is attempt to drag this country back to a time when constitutional rights and power belonged exclusively to white people.
Summary: King inspired the world for decades, while Trump inspires a few—a blip in current history.
Correction: I understand that the winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize presented it to Trump this weekend in hopes that he would support her bid to become the next leader of Venezuela. Apparently, airline tickets aren’t transferable—but Nobel Peace Prizes are? This is madness.
Finally, to all MAGA supporters, Republicans, conservatives, and Fox News anchors: you are not the Party of Lincoln.
If you bothered to research history, you’d know that Republicans of the 1860s challenged the status quo. They fought to abolish slavery and advance the idea that all men are created equal. Republicans today have far more in common with the traitors who seceded from the United States to set the nation down the path of a civil war.
You are not the party of human liberation. You are the party that seeks to chain, imprison, or erase those who do not fit your Aryan ideal.
So before you quote King today—on the day the U.S. recognizes his birthday—don’t. We all know you do not share his beliefs.
Instead, take a moment today and go fuck yourself.
