Rev. Todd galvanizes students during MLK Day lecture

During the annual MLK Day lecture, the Rev. Royal Todd spoke with students about using their faith, community building, and how to challenge ideas in the modern age.
By Ian Dinkins, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

University School of Nashville marked its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture with a powerful and personal message this year, welcoming the Rev. Royal Todd to speak with High Schoolers students on Thursday, January 15, King’s birthday. Gathering in Durnan Auditorium, students listened as Todd challenged them to consider who they want to become and how they can use their voices to help shape a better world.

Todd, who noted that it has only been 10 years since he was in high school, grounded his remarks in lived experience. Rather than speaking to students, he spoke with them, asking reflective questions that lingered long after the program ended.

“What legacy will I leave behind?” Todd asked. “Your voice is important.”

He shared that his earliest memory of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a child was simply having school off, but as he grew older, he came to understand the deeper significance of King’s legacy. That legacy, Todd explained, taught him that his voice could be used not to tear down, but to build people up.

“I think students got a sense of community and empowerment from the talk,” said Alaina Bryce Jones ’27. “His speech taught us how valuable community and speaking up against injustice are.” 

Central to Todd’s talk were three principles he believes King exemplified, and that students should strive to learn and emulate: intellectual pursuits, passion, and persuasion.

Todd said that these principles are critical tools for improving the world. He also spoke about King’s deep conviction in his faith, encouraging students to show the same level of commitment to whatever beliefs guide their own lives. 

Todd concluded with a call to action that resonated strongly with students: do not lose your voice. “Lift your voice above apathy or fear,” he urged. “When barriers are there, build a bridge.”

Following the speech, students engaged Todd in a thoughtful Q&A session, asking about his personal journey and how they, too, can use their voices effectively. 

When asked about balancing intellectualism and faith, Todd shared that his love of learning is what initially drew him to Christianity and ultimately led him to become a pastor.

In response to a question about allyship, he emphasized that it begins with listening and building community. “We’re all connected one way or another,” he said.

The visit was especially meaningful to Director of Diversity and Community Life Roderick White, who helped bring Todd to campus. White first heard Todd speak more than a year ago at Vanderbilt University during a program honoring the 100th birthday of Malcolm X.

“I was immediately impressed by his ability to speak directly to the young scholars in the room,” White said. “His passion for using our true voices definitely left an impression.”

White also emphasized why the MLK Day speaker program remains a vital part of USN’s mission.

“USN, like any institution, needs to have a good knowledge of who it is,” he said. “We are a place where conversations and discourse are accepted and encouraged, which allows us to hear not just one voice or perspective, but all voices.”

He hopes students walked away understanding that change is not reserved for adults alone. 

Quoting King after the lecture, White added, “‘The time is always right to do what is right’ is not just limited to adults, and when things are easy. We all have an obligation to be strong for each other, even more so when being strong is difficult.”

For students like Alaina, Todd’s message was both empowering and motivating. 

“One thing I learned from Rev. Todd’s speech is how powerful one’s voice can be, and the impact a group of people can make through their power of speech,” Alaina said. 

She believes other students also gained “a sense of community and empowerment,” learning “how valuable community and speaking up against injustice is.”

One moment that especially stayed with Alaina was Todd’s reminder that everyone has a story worth telling.

“He talked about everybody having a story to tell and that no story is small or less than,” she said, a message that encouraged her to think more deeply about becoming an advocate for causes she cares about.

As USN continues its tradition of honoring King’s legacy, Todd’s visit served as a timely reminder that voices (especially young ones) matter. When used with intention, conviction, and courage, they have the power to build bridges and create lasting change.
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