In 1859, the late writer and educator Horace Mann spoke these words to Antioch College: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Mann’s words remain a charge for each of us to live mindful of what we can bring to the human story: the promise and possibility of redemption, hope, selflessness, sacrifice, empathy and service to others. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived his life in such a way. He issued a clarion call to all people of goodwill to help realize the ideals set forth in the sacred documents that helped birth and shape our nation, including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

KingMaker (2015) is a book I wrote drawing from my post-graduate work on the life, leadership, and legacy of King in his work with athletes and entertainers during the Civil Rights Movement. King never held public office, yet he wielded tremendous influence on the nation’s conscience when it came to matters of justice, fairness, and equality. He was, in a word, a “KingMaker.” Simply put, this term refers to a person who makes things happen. Today, for you and me, being a “KingMaker” represents a formal invitation to journey and explore what has been, what is, and what can be when we utilize the resources we have—regardless of our fame, fortune, or status—to advance a cause greater than ourselves. Being a KingMaker means living a life that makes things happen—a life that enhances and advances the lives of others.