20/01/2025
“I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally.”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"With these very words, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 with humility and altruism. At a global event of great prestige feting his singular achievements, Dr. King chose to take the spotlight off himself and instead honor the work of others who continued to fight the good fight for civil rights nonviolently around the world.
"Dr. King specifically recognized Chief Albert John Lutuli of South Africa, whose pivotal role as president of the African National Congress and spokesperson for a campaign of civil disobedience against the apartheid government had earned him the Nobel Peace Prize four years earlier. Chief Lutuli, in turn, was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence. And, in 1984, his countryman, Bishop Desmond Tutu, won the Nobel Prize for Peace, having praised Dr. King and included Chief Lutuli as important influences in his life.
"Likewise, Coretta Scott King, Dr. King’s wife and a civil rights leader herself, once wisely observed, “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.” In the ongoing pursuit for racial justice, this thread of continuity from Gandhi to Tutu connects the past to the present and the future.
"We, therefore, owe it to the civil rights leaders of the past to honor their legacies and further their good work with each new generation. In the closing of his acceptance speech, Dr. King noted, “I accept this award in the spirit of a curator of some precious heirloom.” That’s why today is not just a national holiday, it’s also a National Day of Service. So, I encourage you to find a way to give back by locating opportunities on the Americorps.gov website.
For the NCUA’s part, our daily efforts to advance economic equity, enhance financial security, bolster the stability of the middle class, and create intergenerational wealth for Americans of every background, especially those of modest means, are much in the same spirit. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to building a safer, fairer, and more affordable financial system that works better for all Americans. That means a brighter future for our nation. As always, be safe, be well, be kind, and be of service!"— NCUA Chairman Todd M. Harper
