01/19/2026
Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we pause to reject the whitewashed version of his legacy and honor the full truth of his life and work, including his radical call to confront systemic racism and injustice and his lived experience with serious mental health challenges.
Dr. King lived with lifelong depression, often in silence due to stigma and fear of weaponization. And yet he led with courage and compassion. He fought injustice while carrying inner pain. He changed the world while living with challenges many still face today.
For those connected to NAMI Davidson County, this matters. Dr. King was not only a civil rights leader, he was also a peer with lived experience. His story reminds us that mental health challenges do not diminish strength, leadership or purpose and why ending stigma remains urgent work.
As we honor Dr. King today and every day, may we remember this truth:
• Lived experience is not weakness
• Speaking openly saves lives
• Community, education and peer support matter
Continue this work with us at NAMI Davidson County today and everyday! Thank you Dr. King!