By DaQuan Lawrence
AFRO International Writer
DLawrence@afro.com
On Jan. 20, nearly four decades after its first iteration in 1986, the United States will recognize and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, commemorating the life, legacy and humanitarian efforts of the internationally renowned civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While many people around the world continue to fight against social, political and economic injustice, some members of younger and older generations also struggle to find meaning or relevance in the modern human and civil rights movements.
For the King holiday in 2025, the AFRO spoke with three phenomenal young leaders who comprise of the contemporary vanguard for human rights and are currently carrying the social justice mantle and continuing the legacy of the fallen world leader, who – albeit by various means – attempted to appeal to the conscience of America during the 20th Century and fought for economic and social equality.
Shaquayah McKenzie, Jadayah S. Muhammad and Rashad D. Staton are modern day “human rights leaders” who embrace the responsibility, calling and role of serving their communities locally, nationally and on a global scale.
“When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. set out to influence social change, it derived from an innate spiritual calling – beset in humanitarianism and Black suffrage,” McKenzie told the AFRO.
A first-generation Jamaican-American from Hartford, Ct, Shaquayah McKenzie is CEO of Hutchinson and McKenzie Enterprises, a social ventures group named in honor of her late father and great grandfather who helped paved the way for her family’s “American Dream.” She is also the CEO of Livity Impact, a creative change agency.
McKenzie is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a Teach for America alumnus. She was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Maryland by Women We Admire, and as a 2023 Women’s History Month “Ladies and Politics” honoree by Black Girls Vote and Moet and Chandon.
“I am inspired by Dr. King’s conscientious leadership, which motivates me to forge meaningful opportunities through advocacy, education and social justice as an impact strategist,” McKenzie said. “I understand my responsibility in carrying the baton closer to the lines of fairness and justice.”
The first of her parent’s children to attend college, McKenzie made history as a student leader and obtained a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy at the illustrious Morgan State University. She earned her master’s degree in Education at Johns Hopkins University. She believes that the work of King is very important and the battle for social justice is ongoing.
“Until the decreed expressions set forth in our nation’s founding documents are actualized, there is much work to be done in addressing corrosive indifferences towards inequity,” McKenzie said.
Throughout her career, McKenzie has worked as a board member and as a major gifts officer for Arts for Learning Maryland. She has served as the director of development and operations for The Carmelo Anthony Foundation, and as career and college readiness director for the Baltimore Curriculum Project. Her resume also includes time as a lead teacher at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.
While Dr. King is revered for his role in the American civil rights movement, his work also spanned around the globe as he is internationally known for less heralded efforts against capitalism and poverty. Many members of the global community consider Dr. King a humanitarian with a radical philosophy for resolving racial subordination and class exploitation.
Jadayah S. Muhammad is the executive director of the International Youth Leadership Institute (IYLI), and seeks to continue Dr. King’s revolutionary efforts on the international front for working class families, youth and people of African descent. Muhammad considers herself a “dedicated worker” who’s putting her time and energy toward the liberation of all people, particularly African descendants.
“I’m motivated by the desire to see freedom, justice and equality for all people, especially Black youth, Indigenous people, and youth around the world. I’m inspired by a vision of a future where people can live up to their fullest potential because they have the things that they need,” Muhammad explained.
Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Muhammad advocates for improving access to opportunities that enhance the lives of youth, people of African descent, and Indigenous people worldwide. She is IYLI’s United Nations (UN) Representative where she works with international and local organizations on youth and social impact initiatives, as well as a delegate of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, where she co-leads the Youth Subcommittee.
“One thing that people don’t seem to acknowledge enough is the fact that Dr. King was very young while doing the work that he did. There’s no age limit to causing change in our community, so his commitment absolutely inspires me,” Muhammad told the AFRO.
Muhammad is a proud IYLI alumna, where she became a 2010-2011 fellow and worked in Tanzania during the 2011 Summer Fellowship Program and served as a group leader during the 2013 Summer Fellowship Program in Brazil. She started her undergraduate education at age 16 as a Deans Scholar at New York University, where she majored in anthropology and double-minored in Social Entrepreneurship and Mandarin Chinese.
As a third-generation Brooklynite, Muhammad was named one of New York City’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars by New York Nonprofit Media. She serves on several international and local boards, including the New York City Young Women’s Advisory Council, which addresses policy issues that directly affect young women of color in New York City.
Muhammad believes there are several reasons for youth and marginalized populations to continue fighting for human and civil rights, especially considering the current social, political and economic climate of the United States and nations around the world.
“There are many things we can point to in the U.S. and around the world as examples of why Black people must continue to fight for human and civil rights. Considering unfavorable statistics – from rates of imprisonment and rates of education discrepancy to health inequities that we see globally – our collective condition is not one that we can speak of with pride,” Muhammad said.
Hailing from Baltimore, Rashad D. Staton is a public servant and self proclaimed “catalyst of change” who is dedicated to empowering communities and youth through advocacy, organizational capacity-building and socio-political engagement. He is the executive director of Community Law in Action (CLIA), a nonprofit that develops young leaders aged 14-24 and facilitates partnerships to amplify youth priorities in public policy. He is also founder and CEO of Catalyst of Change, LLC, a community and youth engagement consulting firm.
Staton is inspired by the actions of Dr. King and other ancestors who laid the foundations for transformative thinking, liberation, and the philosophy of humanity grounded in spirituality.
“I am motivated by the communities that I serve and collaborate with — people who embody resilience and the desire for change. Being part of something larger than oneself is truly fulfilling,” Staton told the AFRO.
“I often say, ‘a simple act of service can spark a ripple of positive change, catalyzing energy and appreciation that extends beyond its immediate space and creating a broader impact on the world’,” Staton explained
With extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, community organizing, and youth advocacy throughout the last decade, Staton has served as a youth engagement specialist for Baltimore City Public Schools, a program assistant at the Family League of Baltimore and as a manager of instruction at Higher Achievement. His expertise in program development and cross-sector collaboration helped facilitate legislative victories, community policing reforms, and partnerships that emphasize racial and social justice.
Although many young people around the nation and world believe that Black people in America ‘have made it’ and no longer need to fight for civil and human rights like previous generations, Staton mentioned the media’s role in depicting a form of success for individuals yet a lack of progress for Black communities en masse.
“Humanity and civility are timeless needs, so there is always a fight worth pursuing despite mass media portraying some exceptions of success, which do not reflect the reality for all. While some progress has been made, systemic issues such as youth incarceration rates for Black boys in states like Maryland and Mississippi, and the school-to-prison pipeline remain urgent issues,” Staton explained.
Staton has worked with prominent leaders and organizations, including Congressman Elijah Cummings, Johns Hopkins University, and various local government and civic organizations. In 2023, he was named a Baltimore Homecoming Hero Finalist as well as a Leadership Baltimore Fellow. He is a board member of the Public Justice Center and Restoring Inner City Hope Inc.
All three young leaders believe that the issues Dr. King and others worked to address during his lifetime remain relevant in modern society.
McKenzie highlighted the increasing efforts to undo the cultural and legislative victories won by previous generations for working class families.
“If poverty exists, human and civil rights have not been won, and if a woman in any state of this republic doesn’t have autonomy to choose how she reproduces— or not—the fight for social justice continues. [If] there is a difference in the education that children receive, there is work to do, regardless of the seemingly positive effects of integration in the last 50 years,” McKenzie said.
Staton emphasized the throughline of issues that continue to plague Black communities, while Muhammad brought attention to double standards created by Western civilization and how they negatively impact Black communities, especially Haiti, which is the world’s first free Black republic.
“Dr. King’s work remains profoundly relevant, as the challenges he addressed persist in different forms today. Many of the social determinants impacting Black and brown communities during the 1960s—such as poverty, systemic racism, and inequality—continue to impede progress,” Staton said.
“[Dr. King’s] human rights fight must continue, considering double standards of the West, where nations such as France have caused Haiti turmoil and many injustices largely as a result of western interventions,” Muhammad said.
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