On The Anniversary Of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Speech, We Ask, “What’s Next For America?”
Whether it’s combating the pandemic, worrying about the political outcome of the forthcoming election, the deaths of John Lewis and Kobe Bryant, or the continued racial inequality against the Black community, this year hasn’t stopped giving the American people a cause for concern. That concern seems to be ever-present, especially with the recent murder of Jacob Blake, adding to the lengthy list of Black people that have been disproportionately, and in many cases, unjustly killed by law enforcement.
We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.
While these current situations feel irreconcilable and the road to equality for all seems far too distant, today, we are reminded of the racial progress made in America. On this date in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. His speech motivated the masses and, most importantly, reminded America of two things. The first was that everyone, especially Black Americans, must continue to peacefully strive for racial equality. The second is a reminder that equality is a “dream” yet to be achieved.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’
Today, on the anniversary of Dr. King’s speech, the brutal murder of Emmett Till, a few days after Colin Kaepernick first knelt during the national anthem, a few days after NBA players boycotted their games, and on the days after the death of Jacob Blake, the nation must reflect, remain hopeful, and continue to fight for racial equality. While Dr. King’s dream has yet to be achieved, we brace for the rest of 2020 with the hopes that his dream becomes a reality.