“The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We are living in the reality Dr. King warned us about. In these times, intelligence without integrity is shaping policy, steering economies, and deciding who eats and who doesn’t. Decisions are made with sharp minds but empty consciences — and the fallout is real.

Over the past few years, many of us have stood on the steps of advocacy, carrying the voices of the people, hoping that moral clarity would eventually break through. We’ve written the letters, made the calls, stood in the rooms, and spoken truth with respect. And yet, disappointment has been constant. Support has been cut. Promises have been broken. Lives have been devalued.

When I posted my photo earlier this week with the caption “I’m Back”, I knew some people would see the suit, the stare, the posture. What I hope they also saw was this: I’m not wearing gloves. No gloves means no more pulling punches. No more tempering language to avoid discomfort. No more illusions that those in power will suddenly discover their moral compass without being challenged. The work ahead demands honesty — even when it’s inconvenient. It demands strategy — not just outrage. And it demands resolve — especially when it feels like battle after battle has been lost.

I don’t believe in empty hope. I believe in strategic hope. Hope that comes from thinking critically, acting decisively, and refusing to surrender the future to those who operate without conscience. Because morality without strategy is powerless. And strategy without morality is dangerous.

The hard work is done; now it’s time to take on the impossible. That means building coalitions that are relentless, sharpening strategies that are unshakable, and making sure the communities we serve are not just surviving but thriving. I am back — not to resume business as usual, but to move with urgency, clarity, and conviction.

No gloves. No illusions. Only the work ahead.

— L. Ron Pringle