As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we often conjure images of a poised, polished, and widely-admired civil rights leader. But at today’s all-school assembly, Director of Stanford’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute Dr. Lerone Martin shared stories of King as a child, reminding us that “no superhero arrives fully formed.” This lesser known perspective helped students see Dr. King not only as a historic icon but as a young person still becoming himself—offering a clear call to action and opening the door for future leaders in the making.

Drawing on research from his upcoming book, Young King: The Making of Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Martin traced how childhood experiences shaped King’s moral imagination and pushed him to keep asking big questions, stay committed, and recognize a call to serve, emphasizing that impact comes from perseverance and purpose, not perfection. “He didn’t arrive on this earth knowing that he would be who he was, but he just decided to remain committed. And that’s what led him to be the man we celebrate today.”

Following his remarks, the leaders of the Middle and Upper School Black Student Union groups—Sulia ’26, Kai ’27, and Taj ’30—interviewed Dr. Martin, asking questions that had been submitted ahead of time by fellow students and faculty. When asked what helps him stay hopeful when society feels “heavy”; he pointed personally to his children and to Menlo students’ energy and curiosity as sources of hope for the future, and to his professional historian lens as a longitudinal reminder that people have faced—and overcome—hard moments before.

In answering an eighth grader’s question about how Dr. King’s approach to spreading a message of justice and equality might change in today’s misinformation-fueled social media environment, Dr. Martin responded that media has always been a powerful tool for exposing injustice, but that attention and “likes” are just one step in the process. The end goal is to use media to organize people and galvanize real action and change.

Across the interview, his message was consistent: meaningful change is built through sustained action, learning, and community engagement, not one single miraculous moment.

In closing, Academic Support Coordinator and BSU Advisor John Norris thanked Dr. Martin and thanked Menlo for investing in and valuing this holiday. He thanked the students for their attention and credited the upper and middle school BSU for leading the program and creating space for learning and dialogue. He also offered a broader shout-out to all affinity groups on campus, naming the importance of visible, vocal support for students and faculty who may feel “invisible,” “unheard,” or in need of healing and justice.

The Assembly was a beautiful way to come together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while reaffirming our commitment to building a community grounded in justice, inclusion, belonging, and the courage to speak up and care for one another. In the words of MLK, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Watch the full video here: