TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking

by Chris J. Anderson

That is why I deeply believe in Martin Luther King Jr.’s shining statement: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” There really is an arrow to history. There really is such a thing as moral progress. If we pull the camera back for a moment, away from whatever evil du jour is dominating the news, we can see that progress writ large in the history of the last few centuries, not least in the impact of MLK himself. And it has every chance of continuing. As humans continue to be brought closer, not just by technology but by an ever deeper understanding of each other, so we will find more ways of seeing in each other the things we mutually care about. And that is how barriers come down and human souls unite. It won’t happen quickly, nor easily. This type of change is multigenerational. And there are plenty of imaginable disasters that could blow it off course. But at least we have a shot. Talking with each other is a crucial part of nurturing that change. We’re wired to respond to each other’s vulnerability, honesty, and passion—provided we just get a chance to see it. Today, we have that chance.