Milbank LLP had the honor of hosting Martin Luther King III at our Hudson Yards office for a fireside chat led by Milbank Litigation & Arbitration Partner and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Chair, Tawfiq Rangwala, on March 3, 2023. MLK III, whose name is synonymous with the pursuit of justice, equality, and civil rights in the US and around the world, spoke in front of an audience of over 200 colleagues, friends, and clients of the firm.
Mr. Rangwala, who began the conversation by highlighting the upcoming 60th anniversary of MLK Jr’s I Have a Dream speech, asked MLK III how the world has progressed in relation to that dream. MLK III remarked that despite 60 years of growth and change, tensions persist. “It’s not like we haven't made progress,” he said. “It’s just that we have a long way to go.”
To move forward, MLK III added, it is necessary to acknowledge that people who do not remember their history are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. He explained that education helps to keep history alive and without it, society can rewrite and revise history, halting the momentum of upward change. “This can’t happen,” MLK III notes, “because everyone moves forward when we know the truth … Education should make you want to create a better world.”
Mr. Rangwala and MLK III discussed ideas for creating a more equitable world. Relying on his unique perspective as someone raised in the midst of the civil rights movement, MLK III shared his thoughts on how transformation stems from a love of community, a spirit of forgiveness, and the willingness to make a difference. With a love of community, he explained, you never accept things as they are but as they could be. We all need to be part of creating an “atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning,” he noted.
When asked how to best carry forward his father’s legacy, MLK III responded, “If we can live a day in peace, then why couldn't we live a week in peace? If we can live a week, why not a month? If we can live a month in peace, why not a year in peace? And if we can live a year, then certainly we can live a lifetime.”
Milbank’s Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Mikeisha Anderson Jones, concluded the event by thanking MLK III for his generosity and insight, and reminded all attendees of the importance of playing a role in pursuing justice and how Milbank’s DEI and pro bono programming is designed to lead the charge.
Please enjoy the fireside chat with MLK III, Tawfiq Rangwala, and Mikeisha Anderson Jones in the video below!
