Watch – MLK: The Voice We Need but Do Not Want

Nonotuck staff gathered recently to reflect on “MLK: The Voice We Need but Do Not Want,” a TEDx talk by noted Martin Luther King scholar Gregory Thompson. Sponsored by Nonotuck’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) Committee, the event created space for thoughtful dialogue among staff about Dr. King’s legacy and how his message continues to challenge us today.

In the talk, Thompson examines how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is often remembered in simplified ways that overlook the depth and difficulty of his message. He reflects on King’s emphasis on love, justice, and moral responsibility, and considers why these ideas can be hard to accept or sustain, particularly during times of social tension and inequality.

Staff drew parallels between Dr. King’s era and the present day. While his words are frequently quoted and celebrated, participants noted that the most challenging part of his message—the insistence on love as an active, demanding practice—is often overlooked. Love, as Dr. King described it, is not passive or sentimental. It requires seeing one another fully, refusing to reduce people to their worst moments, and committing to justice without abandoning compassion.

During the discussion, Nonotuck President and CEO George H. Fleischner reflected on how the talk reframed Dr. King’s message as a call to action rather than a comforting ideal. “This talk reminded me that Dr. King’s message wasn’t meant to make us comfortable—it was meant to call us into deeper responsibility,” George shared. “Love, as he described it, asks something of us every day: to listen more carefully, to act with courage, and to stay committed to one another even when it’s hard.”