Was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a Highly Sensitive Person?
From his deep empathy for others to his leadership skills, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. seemed to embody key traits of being a highly sensitive person.
When most think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we see a tower of strength. We see a man with a divine purpose and a dream that is still being realized today. Some may not see him as a highly sensitive person (HSP), but I beg to differ — many signs point to the fact that he very well may have been one. So let’s dive right into this topic.
Some of his traits are very common among sensitive people: he displayed immense creativity and drive; he was extremely empathic, especially toward the social justice woes that affected African Americans; he was on a mission driven by his intuitive ability to hear God’s instructions and carry them out; and his perception was clearly on point — he knew how to recognize problems, carve out solutions, and pick up on the little things (which HSPs are so good at). Lastly — but certainly not least — he lived from the inside out. He dreamed a dream that was so real to him that he persuaded others to believe in it, too. And rightfully so.
Dr. King also had a “personalist theology” — he understood that having a personal God was key in living out one’s mission. Even if you are more spiritual than religious, this connects with most HSPs in that we are governed by an inner knowing: a sixth sense, a Spidey-Sense, whatever you may call it. There’s no question that Dr. King fully displayed his authenticity in this realm.
Sensitive people also uniquely bring all their gifts to the table for a greater cause and can’t turn off their feelings — it’s like a water faucet that you can’t control — nor can they help but absorb other people’s emotions. In Dr. King’s case, his heart was an integral part of his fight, and many joined his fight because of the way he expanded his presence; he connected others through political and social justice causes others chose to ignore.
Empathy for Social Justice
Of course, Dr. King was well known for his work within the civil rights movement. Beyond his theological training, he was the voice of a disruptor who challenged the status quo. Discrimination was very prevalent during Dr. King’s time. Many discriminatory practices were cemented in place by white moderates, and Dr. King challenged these policies. He was fearless in his attack on the continued practices that divided races and kept African Americans at a disadvantage. After all, highly sensitive people are born leaders and Dr. King exemplified this.
You can see his empathy in his “I Have a Dream” speech, which he gave on Aug. 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Here are just a few of his moving words:
“…No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive… Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”
However, Dr. King’s leadership and drive didn’t come without hard consequences that he was willing to take. He was arrested (29 times, mind you), jailed, attacked, and the list goes on. But his empathy for others was unwavering and brought about — and continues to bring about — much-needed change. The changes he wanted to see — to end racial discrimination and segregation — would not be able to be seen without all the struggles he’d encountered. His inner empathic voice of the needs that plagued the African American community were key in his strategizing to help overcome social justice obstacles and try to bring more peace to the world.
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Living from the Inside Out
Dr. King’s deep spiritual relationship also kept him aligned with his inner knowing. It caused him to live from the inside out, and HSPs gather life fuel from this inner and innate understanding. He used his biblical knowledge and personal relationship with God to carry out a divine pupose. He didn’t live for just himself; rather, while caring for himself and his family, he also cared for others. It was never solely someone else’s fight — he’d take on their fights and struggles as though they were his own, a very highly sensitive person thing to do. It seemed he had an obligation to be the change — and certainly left that legacy behind.
Although he lived a short life in years, he made a big impact that has lasted well beyond his death. Others have taken up the torch of leading from the inside out, strategizing creatively and feeling deeply for the needs of others. I think it’s safe to assume that Dr. King was a highly sensitive person — or at least someone who seemed to embody many of the characteristics of one. From being a deep thinker and knowing himself and his mission to living authentically and allowing his personal theology to be a catalyst to drive his purpose, he seemed to live out HSP traits and values through and through.
How Dr. King Inspired Me as an HSP
There is so much I have derived from learning more about Dr. King, and in many ways, it has fortified me as an HSP. I used to be a person that shunned my sensitivity like a secret, but I now understand that being open about it is necessary and helpful toward others, especially when you have a divine purpose. (By the way, we all do!) To me, Dr. King’s ability to stand out and be seen — allowing himself to be vulnerable and his voice to be heard without lowering his standards — is remarkable.
Authenticity is key among HSPs; even though Dr. King may have upset people with his strong stances, he persisted. He kept at it because he had the inner voice that led him through the valleys of the shadow of death. As a fellow sensitive person, I have made it my life purpose to live from the inside out, not allowing any fears that creep up to keep me immobile. As a dreamer, I understand that my dreams can come true. Lastly, I understand that I can impact others, too, which can last generation to generation. Like Dr. King, we can all build a legacy of great proportions that keeps evolving with time. So the question is: What will yours be?
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