Three generations after the speech, after segregation, after the death of our civil rights heroes. In a divided society, where people of color are still being beaten, killed, and thrown in jail senselessly. With cameras in everyones hand and a society of minute by minute news…are the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. still relevant to this generation. Do we still care or have we given up hope? Do we even understand the dreams?
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the go-to black history icon. Whenever we are talking about black history or having to choose a character for our black history papers, he is our first choice. We see his picture on the walls in school and in our history books. With all of the visual reminders of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it is likely that most of the kids in America cannot recite one line, other than “I Have A Dream today” of Dr. Kings iconic speech. It is not that his message is not powerful and necessary, it is simply that it is not as relevant to our current daily lives. Please parents and grandparents please don’t be mad because I say this, it is important, we just didn’t live through the laws and tragedies of the time like you all did. We are two generations, in most cases from the August 28, 1963 speech.
The speech is important, and the truths remind us of a time that was much more difficult, in some ways than our times. Our concern today is how we apply the truths in the “I Have a Dream” speech, how far have we come and are we the product of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream? I believe we have come a long way in fulfilling the promises of the dream, but I also believe we still have a ways to go to see the dream fully realized.
I believe we are the products of the dream in this way; I will never know a time when a black person cannot be president. I will never know a time when my classmates are not people from all races and diverse backgrounds. I will never know a time when people of different races, faiths, and beliefs can’t play, love, or work together. I will never know a time when I can’t be friends in a world without walls, friends from Africa, China, Sweden, or Australia. Our triumphs and ways of fulfilling the dream may not be how anybody thought it would, but here we are fulfilling the dream.
I don’t say “We Are the Dream” lightly. Even at my age, and I hate to break it to all of the parents and grandparents who believe their children are sheltered from the truth…they are smarter and more aware than you think! I know there is still police brutality of persons of color at a scary rate. I know, especially now, there is still severe Racism in this country – NO WE ARE NOT A POST RACIAL SOCIETY! I also know that women are still not treated right. But I choose to celebrate our victories toward the dream while championing out efforts for further change.
We are definitely the products of the Dreams defined by our forefathers! I choose not to diminish the progress while working for even more fulfillment of the dream.
Just My Perspective!