Moral Courage in the Face of Change and Uncertainty

Tiffany Harper ’05, attorney and co-founder of the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program, shares her reflection while remembering the words of one of Dr. King’s fellow civil rights leaders, the late John Lewis. 

“To me, the theme is a call to do what is right and ethical while fighting for the change we want to see in the world. It is call to get into 'GOOD TROUBLE,' a term coined by the late Congressman Lewis, who fought for voting and other rights in this country. The theme also deeply resonates with me because it is the way that myself and so many Black Americans before me have had to live—nervous, uncertain, fearful, but always with the courage to fight for equality and inclusion within the bounds of the law. We will continue to do just that during these uncertain times, and we will lean into the communities and networks that support us, like the Dartmouth community."

Belinda Chiu ’98, faculty at Tuck Executive Education, sees this year’s theme closely aligning with her thoughts on ethics in leadership.

“This year’s theme closely aligns with an ethical leadership framework I have been contemplating, which encompasses four key principles: Direction—the awareness to lead intentionally and inspire others with a clear moral compass; Discernment—the courage to be an independent voice, take bold action, and drive innovation; Dialogue—the emotional intelligence, humility, and skill to engage in meaningful debate, discussion, and relationship-building; and Divergence—the curiosity to embrace and engage with diverse perspectives. In times of change and uncertainty, moral courage requires compassion. It demands a courageous grounding in core values and a purpose beyond self-interest, along with the ability to stay centered and curious in the face of uncertainty—to be the eye of the storm.”

Isaiah Diaz-Mays GR’21, a writer, journalist, and content strategist, underscores the delicate balance between fear and hope when facing today’s global challenges. 

"When pondering the political, social, and ethical challenges we presently face as a country and as human beings, I balance the feelings of fear and hope in my heart. Frightened by the desensitization of numberless tragedies, including unethical wars, loss of human life, natural disasters, and more, I’m scared that the more we continue to see these travesties on a frequent basis due to the handheld devices attached to us all, the less pressure there will be to combat these issues with necessary missions to prevent them from happening. However, in this heavy season, there’s a part of me that remains hopeful. With revolving change and mountainous uncertainty of what the future holds, if we as a people can find a way to utilize those same tools for fact-checking, educational sharing, and the amplification of underrepresented stories and voices, then along the way, we may find the formula for a tranquil coexistence and an illuminated future for impending generations. It’s our responsibility, as it always has been."