Reflecting on Dr. King’s Legacy and Lessons

Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief in the power of love and compassion to transform society has profoundly impacted my life and career. In times of stress and disconnection, his teachings remind me of all the good in the world and the importance of being courageous and strong.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, attended public school, and was a shy, quiet, and awkward kid. Friends were few and far between, and bullies were in abundance. My dark complexion, corrective shoes, glasses, and being sickly made me a magnet for aggressors. Every hate-filled comment, every judgment, every criticism succeeded in causing me to withdraw into myself more and more.

Growing up was hard as the middle child to a single mother who was struggling to survive with three kids. I was socially uncomfortable and felt alone, and moving from place to place didn’t help. As I got older and began to understand marginalization, I realized I was becoming apathetic, hard-hearted, and angry. Angry that no one stood up for me, angry because I wasn’t more assertive, angry at finding that my once quiet, reserved nature had evolved into the thing I disliked most, bullyism, and I didn’t know what to do.

Fast forward to high school, one of my teachers nudged me into joining the debate team. I’m not sure why I agreed, but joining gave me the opportunity to study MLK’s teachings and messages of non-violence, which resonated with me. I learned how to approach injustices and hardships, and how empathy and kindness can transform lives. I realized that I didn’t have to respond to hate with hate. This revelation empowered me to rise above cruelty, find strength in my own spirit, and helped improve my own mental and emotional well-being.

MLK’s teachings have shaped the way I interact with others. It was the catalyst for the path I took to managed care, becoming a facilitated enroller, and an outreach specialist: the satisfaction I felt being able to connect people with services, understanding the needs of the people around me, and hearing the things they don’t say.

I had, without realizing it, made the decision not to contribute to the division and negativity in the world around me. Instead, I was working toward becoming a force for unity and allowing love and compassion to guide my actions. Working in Brooklyn was easy, as I was surrounded by the familiarity of the environment I was forged in. The true test came when I journeyed into the Bronx in 2013 as a Community Relations Specialist for Fidelis Care. I had to adapt, learn, relearn, and apply the knowledge previously gained in familiar surroundings, now in an unfamiliar territory. I found myself, just for a moment, reverting to the comfort of reticence.

In that quietness, I observed that working with diverse communities requires diversity of thought. I turned to volunteerism and began showing up where I wasn’t expected to be. In order to gain the trust of a new community, I had to show them I stand with them, I’m there for them, and they can count on me. I don’t have to look like you or speak your language to support you, because love and compassion are a universal language. My six years in the Bronx completed the circle of learning and led me to follow a new path, one where I desired to help grow people into leaders that can grow communities. One where I strive to apply love and compassion daily to ensure equitable outcomes for all groups.

MLK’s emphasis on empathy and understanding made me more conscious of the importance of treating others with kindness, regardless of their circumstances. His teachings taught me the importance of standing up against injustice, even when it’s uncomfortable. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Tanisha John is a Supervisor of Sales & Marketing at Fidelis Care and a member of the Fidelis Care Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council. She started at Fidelis Care in February 2013 as a Community Relations Specialist. She resides in New Jersey.