Lessons from MLK and Gandhi are lessons learned in 2026

Martin Luther King was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent revolution in India.

Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi -- two men from opposite sides of the world who reshaped the world through shared principles that inspire the activists of 2026.

To understand the connection between Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi is to see how two distinct cultures fused to create a global blueprint for liberation. For Dr. King, Gandhi wasn't just a historical figure; he was the man who provided the "operational technique" for the social gospel of Jesus Christ.

While they never met in person—Dr. King was only 19 when Gandhi was assassinated in 1948—Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) became the operational backbone of the American Civil Rights Movement.

King first encountered Gandhi’s teachings while studying at Crozer Theological Seminary. He viewed Gandhi as "the greatest Christian of the modern world," despite Gandhi not being a Christian himself, because Gandhi practiced the "love ethic" of Jesus on a massive, political scale.

King often said, "Christ furnished the spirit and motivation, while Gandhi furnished the method."

King visits India

Seeking to deepen his understanding of Satyagraha (truth-force), King traveled to India for five weeks in 1959. He was moved by how the Indian people had defeated the British Empire through nonviolence. He stayed with Gahndi's family.

King adopted Gandhi’s core principle that nonviolence is not passive but a "powerful and just weapon" -- "a sword that heals" -- that ennobles those who use it. He followed Gandhi’s lead in seeking to win the friendship of the opponent rather than humiliating them, aiming for "Beloved Community" as the ultimate aftermath of protest.

From Gandhi’s Salt March, King learned the redemptive power of "unearned suffering". He applied this during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, teaching activists that by willingly accepting blows without striking back, they would eventually "touch the heart" of the oppressor and the conscience of the nation.

King’s bond with Gandhi’s legacy turned the Civil Rights Movement into a global mission. He believed that if nonviolence could work against the British Empire in Asia, it was the only "logical and moral approach" to solving the race problem in America.

Communities of color are realizing that an attack on one is an attack on all of them.

King-Ganhdi guides AANHPI today

Transformative Solidarity vs. Political Silos:In 2026, the "Beloved Community" is a policy goal. Organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta have launched a 2026 agenda centered on "transformative solidarity," explicitly bridging AANHPI, Arab, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities to defend civil liberties against systemic threats and Trump attempts to eliminate social and health programs.

Nonviolent Advocacy: Dr. King’s method of relentless pressure on unjust structures remains the blueprint. AANHPI groups recently secured a major win by successfully removing "China Initiative" language from federal funding bills, proving that persistent, organized nonviolence can dismantle racial profiling at the highest levels of government.

The "Spirit of Aloha" as a Modern Shield: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander leaders are leaning into the legacy of the Reverend Abraham Akaka. In 2026, "Aloha" isn't a greeting; it’s a radical framework for demanding political autonomy and land restoration—viewing these as essential to the "justice" King envisioned for all inhabitants of the Pacific.

Standing in the Breach for Immigrants:With federal policies in 2026 creating "lonely islands of poverty" for our neighbors, AANHPI activists are using King’s focus on "unearned suffering" to defend DACA recipients and immigrant families. They are framing the fight for permanent legal status as a moral imperative, not just a legal one.

Modern "Ahimsa" (Non-Harm) in the Streets:In response to rising harassment, groups are transforming Gandhi’s ahimsa into bystander intervention training. They are teaching community members to de-escalate hate without resorting to violence, effectively turning peace into a proactive defense mechanism.

Language Access as the New Voting Frontier:Building on the foundation of the 1975 Voting Rights Act expansion, the 2026 movement identifies language access as a non-negotiable civil right. They argue that a democracy that doesn't speak your language is one that doesn't intend to hear your voice.

In 2026, the AANHPI movement isn’t just looking back at history—it’s actively weaponizing the Gandhian-Kingian toolkit to navigate a political landscape that feels more fraught than ever by policies from the Trump regime that threaten civil rights, voting rights, true history and healthcare. 

As we mark the 40th anniversary of the federal MLK holiday, the "Edge" sees a community moving from the sidelines to the frontlines of transformative solidarity.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Who is Gary Lee? Another MLK Day, another President

GARY LEE started his Twitter account, @whoisgarylee,  only three days ago and it was an instant hit.

Lee, who worked under President Barack Obama, left the White House in 2011 to pursue an advanced degree in South Korea. He recalls on his last day, he was summoned to the Oval Office to have the customary photo with the President.

Upon arrival, President Obama greeted him in Korean. It surprised Lee and all he could do was respond in delight. That exact moment was captured by White House photographer Pete Souza.

RELATED: Some thoughts on MLK Day 2018: Be not afraid

Lee was a low-level staffer yet Obama, the most powerful man in the world at the time and had bigger issues to tackle, had taken the time to practice the Korean pronunciation of "hello."

Contrast that with the current White House occupant who blusters, uses coarse language and proclaims, "I'm the least racist person." Yeah, right!

Now, I'm crying, too. That's how a REAL President is supposed to act!
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Some thoughts on MLK Day 2018: be not afraid

CNN Graphic

WELL -- THIS HEADLINE should keep white nationalists awake at night. CNN has posted an article titled: 

America is changing. Bigoted slurs, immigration bans and racist rallies can't change that

The article is worth a read. It shows graphically that the standard definition of what is American is changing. 

The racist animus dividing our country must have civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. turning over in his grave. Today, (Jan. 15) on Martin Luther King Day, 2018, our country is facing the worst race relations since the 1960s.

When Donald Trump and his supporters chant "Make America Great Again," they are referring to an era that never existed for people of color. 

It was a time when many states still had laws on the books outlawing interracial marriages, racial covenants were common in deeds forbidding home sales to nonwhites, laws were still prevalent that prevented black Americans from voting, separate but equal was the law of the land, doors were closed o golf clubs, schools, businesses and social institutions to nonwhites and the opportunities for advancement to an education or in a career were few except for the privileged insiders.

During the presidential campaign, Trump exhorted his predominantly white followers to vote for him because "it's your last chance." He was able to tap into the deep uneasiness held by many white Americans of the demographic shift that is changing the face of our country that historically placed them at the top of the heap.

In the back of their minds, Trump supporters knew the coded meaning of "Make America Great Again." That campaign slogan caused the majority of white voters to cast their ballot for Trump. White men voted for him overwhelmingly.  Surprisingly, a majority of white women -- especially the suburban moms -- voted for him despite the number of women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct. 

RELATED: Who is Gary Lee? Another MLK Day, another President

In the 2016 presidential election, Trump won the majority of all the white votes in almost every category. Race trumped common sense. Race trumped the lies and playground insults that came out of Trump's mouth. Race trumped the economy. Race trumped the obvious racist attacks against Muslims, Mexicans, Blacks and immigrants.

It is not just the recent vulgar remarks Trump made about immigrants from certain countries that mark him as a racist. Even before he launched his campaign with a tirade against Mexican immigrants, his life has numerous examples of what he thinks of Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Asians and other people of color. What makes Trump's brand of racism so frightful, is like so many other whites, he is unaware of his racism.

Based on what Trump said about the immigrants from Haiti, Africa and El Salvador, Trump continues to use race to divide our country by stoking the fears of the white majority, fears based on ignorance and racial stereotypes.

CNN is not alone with its conclusions, According to the nopartisan Pew Research Center, immigrants are driving overall workforce growth in the U.S. As the Baby Boom generation heads toward retirement, growth in the nation’s working-age population (those ages 25 to 64) will be driven by immigrants and the U.S.-born children of immigrants, at least through 2035.

CNN GRAPHIC

This demographic trend scares the bejeebers out of white supremacists.

To quote President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Trump would have us believe that if people of color were in the majority it would mean losing the American dream, that the Constitution would no longer be the law of the land, that equality, justice and opportunity would disappear from our core values. 

I wish there was some way to convince white people that there is really nothing to fear. Those  dreams and values are universal that all men and women -- no matter what race -- cherish and hold for their families, communities and our nation.

Even though the changes are inevitable -- as CNN notes -- and most likely it will be uncomfortable. That doesn't mean it has to be turbulent if white people would just accept the colorization of our country. They need to learn to get along with a wider range of people -- something that we people of color have had to learn to do for a long time, even when it meant sometimes biting our tongues.

CN

I was at a college reunion recently, and as old college friends, we BS'd a lot. I was asked by a white friend I used to share a house with a few blocks from campus, "What was the biggest problem facing America?"

Oh, hell! I hate having to represent all the people of color in the country, I thought to myself.  But the question wasn't patronizing. It was asked in all seriousness. It didn't take long for me to answer. I said, "The truth?"

"We'd expect nothing but the truth," he said.

"White people have to learn to accept the inevitable changes that are occurring demographically and learn, that in the end, not much will change ...,: I paused ,as I tried to read his face to see if I was risking our friendship.

My friend jumped in and finished my thought: "... Except we (white guys) won't have that white privilege," he smiled.

"Right, right, right," I said in surprise. 

He gets it. His response gives me hope.

Happy MLK Day!
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MLK DAY: A word from Martin Luther King and white supremacists

BEFORE we leave Martin Luther King Day 2017, just days before Donald Trump takes office, I leave you with this quote from Dr. King as dug up by Huffington Post's Zeba Blay. 

All you have to do is substitute Trump for Goldwater and ... well, you get the idea.

King stated: 

“The Republican Party geared its appeal and program to racism, reaction, and extremism...On the urgent issue of civil rights, Senator Goldwater represents a philosophy that is morally indefensible and socially suicidal. While not himself a racist, Mr. Goldwater articulates a philosophy which gives aid and comfort to the racist. His candidacy and philosophy would serve as an umbrella under which extremists of all stripes would stand. In the light of these facts and because of my love for America, I have no alternative but to urge every Negro and white person of goodwill to vote against Mr. Goldwater and to withdraw support from any Republican candidate that does not publicly disassociate himself from Senator Goldwater and his philosophy.”

RELATED: 

• Asian/Americans & African/Americans linked in fight for civil rights
• The debt AAPI owe to Martin Luther King

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