“On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day dedicated to the legacy and history of a man who committed himself to sharing and growing the civil rights movement, we must remember that what we choose to save and celebrate has a direct impact on people’s understanding of themselves. It shapes us and sends a message about what is possible in our own lives. And it has the power to influence and inspire generations to come.”

Read more in today’s TIME ideas piece, authored by National Trust President and CEO Stephanie Meeks, and Ford Foundation President, and African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Advisory Council Chair Darren Walker: On MLK Day, Let’s Tell the Whole American Story.