A personal message from Kathy Spillar, Executive Editor
Dear John,
Today is a day of stark contrasts.
On one hand, it marks the inauguration of Donald Trump, a moment that may stir despair and fear for many who value equality, justice, and progress.
Yet, today is also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—a beacon of hope that reminds us our nation’s true destination is one of change, equality, and unrelenting progress toward justice.
Dr. King taught us that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice—not through inevitability, but because we, the people, pull it there. And so, while one event today may feel like a step backward, the legacy of Dr. King shines as a reminder that no setback is permanent, no darkness eternal.
This moment requires us to hold steadfast in our values. To remember that setbacks are not defeats but opportunities to strategize and push forward. Let us take heart from the wisdom of James Baldwin: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
These words echo like a battle cry, reminding us that facing the harsh realities before us—no matter how uncomfortable or daunting—is the first act of change. We cannot flinch. We cannot avert our gaze. To confront what stands in the way of progress is not to concede to it, but to declare that we will not be defeated.
History is our proof. From the suffragists who faced jeers and imprisonment to the architects of Title IX who built a bridge to equality brick by painstaking brick, progress has never been handed to us—it has been wrested from the grip of those who would prefer the status quo. Progress zigs and zags, and the moments that feel like steps backward often hold the seeds of the greatest leaps forward.
Let’s also remember that change is not an abstract idea. It is an act, a series of decisions made in the face of opposition. It is the collective will of people who refuse to accept that “this is as good as it gets.” Every article Ms. publishes, every investigation we launch, every platform we create to amplify voices silenced elsewhere—these are acts of defiance, of hope made tangible.
Consider the Equal Rights Amendment, a simple yet seismic step forward that has faced over a century of resistance. Today, we stand closer than ever to enshrining equality under the law, not because it was easy, but because countless women and men refused to stop fighting. Let this be our guiding light: the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, the spark of hope can ignite a revolution.
"Hope," as Baldwin might say, "is no passive thing." It demands action. It calls us to face what others deny, to speak when others fall silent, to stand firm when the ground beneath us shakes. Hope is a verb, and its power lies in what we choose to do with it.
So let all of us in the Ms. Community choose. Choose to believe that every step forward, however small, carries the momentum of a movement. Choose to be relentless in the face of setbacks, knowing they are but a prelude to progress. Choose to raise your voice, not only for yourself but for those who cannot yet raise theirs.
You, our Ms. Community, are the lifeblood of this movement. Your support makes possible the stories we tell, the truths we uncover, the actions we inspire. Together, we have built a platform from which to speak boldly and to act fearlessly. Together, we face what must be faced, knowing that nothing can be changed until it is.
Thank you for your unwavering belief in equality and justice. Thank you for standing with us, for facing the challenges ahead, and for daring to hope. Together, we will not just imagine a better future—we will build it.
With resolve and gratitude,
