As we reflect on the 60 years since the Voting Rights Act, we must ask: what kind of leadership do we demand today? One that serves, or one that dominates?
1965 The modern civil rights movement offers a timeless example of servant leadership, a philosophy that places the needs of others first, emphasizing humility, empathy, and service. *
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stands as a central figure in this model, especially through his leadership during the critical events of 1965. That year, and particularly the summer months, revealed not only the brutal resistance to justice but also the strength of servant leadership to inspire change without resorting to hate. Following the Selma to Montgomery marches in March, the summer of 1965 became a pivotal time.
On August 6, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a direct result of the peaceful pressure led by King and countless others. This landmark legislation outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had long disenfranchised Black Americans, especially in the South. Dr. King’s patient, persistent leadership was instrumental in bringing about this victory—not through domination, but through nonviolent resistance and deep compassion for those he served. Yet, the summer also revealed the growing tension within the movement.
Just days after the Voting Rights Act was signed, the Watts Riots erupted in Los Angeles on August 11. The unrest, sparked by years of economic inequality and police brutality, lasted six days and left 34 dead. While King did not condone the violence, he listened to the pain behind the uprising. His response was not condemnation, but empathy and understanding—a key trait of the servant leader.
Dr King recognized that legislation alone could not fix centuries of systemic racism; leadership had to meet both the legal and emotional needs of the people. Throughout the summer of 1965, King continued to advocate for economic justice, launching campaigns that would later shape the Poor People’s Campaign. He used his voice to uplift others, not to command them. This is the heart of servant leadership: guiding through service, responding to suffering with action rooted in love, and remaining committed to justice even when the path is difficult.
In a season of both triumph and turmoil, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s servant leadership proved that real change comes not from authority alone, but from the courage to serve others with humility and unwavering moral purpose.
In today’s political landscape, servant leadership often stands in stark contrast to the actions of many contemporary leaders. Where King led with empathy and moral conviction, modern examples across the globe show leaders leveraging power to entrench authority, marginalize dissent, and prioritize political survival over public service. These leaders often pass policies not to uplift, but to control—placing ideology or self-interest over the welfare of those they are meant to serve.
Unlike the servant leadership of Dr. King—who listened, empathized, and sacrificed—today’s political landscape often favors those who wield power aggressively and use legislation to enforce ideological conformity. The consequences are profound: increased polarization, diminished trust in institutions, and policies that fracture rather than unify.
Dr. King’s legacy reminds us that leadership grounded in service can transform a nation. It can deliver justice not only through laws, but through the moral force of compassion, courage, and inclusion.
When leaders lose sight of these values, policy becomes a tool of oppression, not liberation.
*reference Servant leadership, a concept introduced by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970, centers on the idea that a true leader serves others first—placing the needs of people above power, status, or control.
Trenda Jacocks
Cornelius Corps Board