What is Freedom?

What Is Freedom?

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I am struck by the profound parallels between the moment we find ourselves in now and the time when he walked among us. His words on freedom, justice, love, and collective responsibility remain piercingly relevant. This is the nature of true wisdom: it withstands time, circumstance, and resistance.

Moments like these call us inward. They ask us to confront the deeper questions—
What does freedom truly mean?
Freedom of body?
Freedom of mind?
Freedom of speech, of love, of being?

When I look to the wisdom of my ancestors—those who endured enslavement—I am reminded that even in the midst of brutality and chaos, there existed a solidarity and equanimity that could not be destroyed by chains, whips, or physical restraint. Their resilience echoes through generations. Though many knew their own physical freedom might never come, they labored selflessly for futures they would never see. They built foundations for lives yet to be born, guided by love, sacrifice, and collective hope.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Objects in motion remain in motion unless acted upon by another force. We are each other’s keepers. This truth demands not only awareness, but action. Words alone are insufficient. Freedom must be embodied.

We are called into sacred communion—not as separate beings, but as one people. Trust is built through action. Change emerges through lived belief. This is faith made visible. Faith in motion.

In honoring the legacy of Dr. King, we are invited—collectively—to embody the principles he lived: love, selflessness, courage, and sacrifice. When we stand together as one people, our voices are not only heard—they are realized. From that unity, we build bridges toward a new future.

May all beings be safe.
May all beings be loved.
May all beings be free.

Happy MLK Day, 2026.

— Fusatsu, Apriel L. Jessup Searcy