Forty years ago, Civil Rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, when he was struck down by an assassin’s bullet. He was 39 year old.
This April 4, thousands will reverently commemorate the fortieth anniversary of his assassination. They will converge on Memphis and Atlanta, King’s birthplace, and join in symposia, conferences and intimate church gatherings across the nation.
At those gatherings, people will inevitably be asking themselves: how much has changed since we lost Dr. King four decades ago? How far have we come since his death? How far must we still travel to realize his vision for our nation?
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On the anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination, Americans will recall when blacks had to use “colored” bathrooms. When water fountains and lunch counters were segregated. When southern universities were for whites only. When restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues were off limits to blacks – whether by decree or by deed.
That level of legally sanctioned racism is now in the past. In fact, a group of American professors even claimed that racism is dead a few years ago, in a column printed by the venerated Wall Street Journal.
Those professors’ minority opinion, however, isn’t reflected in the socio-economic reality of life in American today. While tremendous legal and social progress has been made, America remains a nation divided. The justice and equality Dr. King empowered Americans to reach for are still an unrealized dream.
The rifts have shifted, however, albeit subtly. The greater chasm today is along the fault lines of economic inequality. Yet that economic divide is still, like in King’s time, decisively not color blind.
For current evidence, one needs to look no further than New Orleans – and to the vast community of low-income people still decimated from the havoc of Hurricane Katrina. Those most affected by the hurricane – those still homeless – are, overwhelming, black.
Despite the long road still ahead to realize King’s vision for America, a top King aide, Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker sees reason for optimism.
"I think Barack Obama's candidacy is the front edge of Dr. King's dream; I'm more excited about it than anything else," Walker told New York Daily News columnist Errol Lewis. "It goes toward fulfilling Dr. King's instruction that we be more concerned about a person's character than the color of his skin."
Regardless of your political persuasion, let Dr. King’s legacy inspire you on the anniversary of his assassination. Honor Dr. King by honoring his call for social justice.
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Comments
Loïc
05:19 05/06/2008
je suis français ert j'admire l'oeuvre de martin luther king je pense que le monde ne doit pas etre divise en plusieurs parties. le racisme est quelques chose d'ignoble et d'inacceptable. ce grd homme avait une vison du monde qu'il faudrait partager encore aujourd'hui pour certaines personne
kristen
09:41 04/16/2008
this is for my reseach report
Tina Mclendon
17:33 04/06/2008
I am glad that we can have King holiday.
Linda Witherspoon
11:04 04/04/2008
I can only reflect on the era when Dr. King was alive. I was a student in school in Mississippi. I, too,experienced some of the civil rights turmoil. My parents had allowed me to enter the all white school, and it was there that I felt negative apprehensions to the fullest. Dr. King, along with many, many others inspired me to strive for success, as I continued my education. God bless his remaining family.
aret masiwa
10:34 04/04/2008
Its amazing that 40yrs on society still has not got the good doctors message, rest in peace mr King youre an inspiration to all mankind.
kia nicole askew
20:36 04/02/2008
that speech was off the hook and it was off the chain and it was really godd and i loved it so please write back to me ok?
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