During this third week of January 2009, we both celebrate history and witness history in the making. On Monday, we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – remembering the contributions of the civil rights leader. In his most famous speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., King spoke of his dream – a dream of racial equality. He spoke at a time when African Americans suffered indignities such as being refused service in restaurants, being forced to ride in the back of public buses, to drink from black only water fountains, and much more. While our country has made great strides in the areas of race relations and racial equality, few can deny that racism still exist – in some areas of the country more than others.
It’s fitting around this time of year to reflect on MLK’s life and work. One question that we often ask is whether or not his dream has been realized. Have we come far enough? Have the barriers to racial equality been torn down sufficiently enough? If King was alive today (he would be 80-years-old this year), would he be satisfied with the progress that has been made? Has King’s dream been realized?
It is, perhaps, especially fitting to ask these questions this year. On Tuesday, one day after MLK Day, our nation’s first African American president was sworn into office. It was not very long ago that it would have been difficult to find someone who believed that this historic event would happen anytime soon. For many it must seem like a huge leap forward for African Americans. Is it? Does the election of Barack Obama signal the achievement of King’s dream? Regardless of who you supported in our last election, you cannot ignore that history has been made. Is the election of Barack Obama an achievement for all African Americans? Does he represent the “Dream” for all Americans of color – black, Hispanic, etc.?
Some have argued that there is no real connection between the election of Obama and the struggles of the average African American. Who’s right, those that see the election of President Obama as a realization of Martin Luther King’s dream, or those that feel we still have a long way to go?
What do you think? Avoid simple answers. Give me real thought. Read the comments of those posting before you. Come back after you post, and continue to keep up with additional posts until the deadline. I want a real conversation. Invite your parents to read the blog, and they can even comment. Enjoy!
Note: I'm including both King's "I Have a Dream" speech and Obama's inaguaral address.
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54 comments:
I think the 'dream' has been realized, because many people in this world have forgotten their differences in skin color. Many people have completely set that aside and looked beyond it. But, there are still those groups of people who when they meet someone new, the first thing that pops into their head is "Is this person black or white?" and they make their impressions off that. But, that group is tiny compared to the people who look beyond skin color. How do I know? Look at our new president!!!! Barack Obama!!
It's half and half. America realized the dream by accepting a a african american as president. On the other hand, the dream is not realized. There are still many who are or against other's race and some still believe all people are not equal. But even so, America made it this far to realize the 'dream' and one day it will be fully realized.
I think Obama is an example of how America has changed over the years, for example, maybe fifty years or so ago, this would never have happened. But, we as Americans have come so far, that the majority of us can tell he is a VERY worthy president and he will help us out of our economic crisis. Even if he is black. And those who don't think so, look past his outside and into his beleifs for America, and they don't agree with those beliefs instead of his appearances.
I think that "The Dream" has been realized. I went online and copied a copy of the "I Have A Dream Speech" and highlighted a few sentences that I think have been realized and are symbolic of Obama's election: one of these is "Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood." Obviously raseism is not as big of an issue as back then, but now not only is it not a problem it is sutch a small problem that more than half the country has voted the an African American to lead us for the next 4 years in unison with many white men and other African Americans.
"The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone." is the next thing that realy stuck out to me. while watching the Inauguration, I saw many people watching that were white, and the fate, freedom, and destiney of all Americans, Black or White, are bound together as we welcome the new presdent into office, and I think that everyone now realizes that.
the next thing I saw that realy seemed to pop out to relate to the Obama Election is when he said: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." very rarely during the Democratic Nomination and then McCain and Obama's race did you hear in Obama's political descriptions the words "He is an African American" it only judged his character and plans.
If you need any more proof just look at who our presedent is, a man with black skin and a white mother.
Martan Luther King Jr.'s dream has become a reality with the Election of Barack Hussein Obama.
P.S. Go McCain!!!
McCain lost! Get over it! JK
I agree with Joanna. Obama is our new, African American president. Doesn't that mean something? If racisim was as strong as it was years ago, it would have definately affected the election. But, there are still many out there that feel Obama shouldn't have been elected BECAUSE of his race. The wall of racisim has been somewhat broken down yes, but I feel it will never completely disappear. There will always be racisim out there and we as Americans are going to have to learn to live with it. I'm not saying we haven't come a long way in the history of racisim, but that if we wish to be perfect, we have a long way to go. Obama represents a man with a dream, just like MLK, and I feel that does represent the average African American. It proves that our society doesn't revolve around racisim, so much, anymore. And with that, the dream has been realized, but not overcome.
Well, have we come far enough? Some could argue for days and not have a deffinate answer. I feel society has come far enough, to realize the impact of racisim. Where does racisim hurt us? Does being a racist protect yourself? Racisim will always be taught from generation to generation. We're not a perfect society and never will be. But that doesn't mean we can't learn to accept one another.
R these 6th graders?????!!!!
I think the dream has been somewhat realized. I think this because, we still have a way to go in getting over the fact that african americans are equal to white people. But, Obama being elected, and now being sworn in is kind of proving to the world that we can have an african american as president, & somewhat telling the world were over that time and that we've moved on from that TERRIBLE era. I think that this day was a very great one for all african americans, because Obama has helped them realize that they can become great leaders too. I think people like will are very mature supporting Obama being inaugurated, and still thinking the dream of MLK has been realized, even though they didnt support Obama. WAY TO GO WILL! anyways, I would say the dream has been pretty much realized, but we still have a little ways to go, there are still some racist people in this country.
P.S. GO OBAMA! (:
P.S. I agree with maria & joanna
Now that I think about it, you guys are right. There are many people still out there who are racist. But they are DEFINATELY outnumbered, something that has DEFINATELY changes since MLK Jr, and DEFINATLEY will change.
Ps. Same as Emily
I TOTALY agree with maria. that the dream has been realized just not overcome. before MLK u werent verry happy to be black when you were born it whent somthin like this "oh crap im black darn i wont be appreciated in society" jk but the thaugh of a black man running for presedent was just unthinkable! u wouldnt only loose but u probably wouldnt be able to run. Sence MLK every one has realize we are all equil nomatter what race. and i belive that that idea sprung a trigger in every ones brain. and the elect of obama has proven we CAN over come this barrier but it has not YET ben over come it just has made a HUGE leap that willl now let us over come it.
p.s.OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA O!!
I think that the dream has been realized. A majority of the American citizens voted for a man with African heritage. I doubt that Martin Luther King Jr. would have thought that an African American would be elected president only 40 years after his movement. There have been a lot of changes since Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream” speech. Not only are black and white children holding hands, but a black man is the leader of our country.
I think Martin Luther King's dream has been realized because now skin color is not an issue. We are all equal. I mean, look at our new president. I don't think Barrack Obama won this election because people wanted to have the first black president. I think he was elected because Americans thought he was a good choice and would make a good president. So, as you can see skin color is not an issue anymore because now people realize that skin color does not matter. It is who the person really is that matters.
Great start. Thank you Will for taking the time to go back to King's speech. It truly is one of the best speeches ever delivered. Ranked #1 on the American Rhetoric website.
Keep going with it - all of you. Watching all the inaugural balls tonight - unity is certainly evident (or at least that's the way it looks on TV), but what about tomorrow. Is Obama the exception to the race issue, or are average African Americans also living the "Dream?"
The dream is realized. I bet Martin luther King wanted this to happen.Back then of course, everyone was judged by their race but now it feels like the world isn't such a rascist country after Obama had became president. I also agree with Maria that Obama represents a man with a dream. I could tell that Obama worked hard to be who he is today. He would be known in history the 1rst African American president of the united states.But I bet some people not all didn't vote for Obama because of his race. There are still some people who are racist. But when I saw the inaguration today, It seems like nobody cared about if he was black or white, they only seemed to care that he was their president, he was the one that was going to take care of their country and they were glad about that and I bet that was what Martin Luther King JR. wanted it to be.
You're right Crystal! MLK would certainly be proud of us. I, for one, think he will be a great president and when I first heard of him when he was running, the first thing I asked myself was "what does he believe in for America?" I did't ask "Wait, he's BLACK????" no, and I know many other people who think the same.
I bileave that America has come along way from slavery to the Civil rightd movement and now having our first African American President be elected into office. I don't think we have completely accomplished our goals because we still have racism In America. Many people still today are having to go through being discluded from activites and being called rude names because of their racism.
I feel Obama will make a wonderful president, whether he's white or black. Take away the skin tones for a moment. Let's pretend we're all blue. Doesn't that mean we're all equal in some way? And of course Obama represents African Americans and the "dream". It shows that any race is capable of anything. Again, there is stil MUCH racisim out there, but can that really be stopped? Parents will teach their children to hate other races, and that's just how they are. It doesn't mean that our society can't live in harmony, it just means racisim will never be fully stopped.
HAPPY NATIONAL HUG DAY!!!
I Love Hugs!!!!!
I think the dream has been realized up to a point. As natalie said the first thing they think is that the're black or white or asian or mixed origions, but now we have a black president thats amazing but don't you think that tv is blowing this a little TOO far out of porportion. Yes its amazing that we have a black president but they make it seem like it was totally impossible like there is no way in te world it could happen EVER. I think that they think its like the biggest miricle in the world
I do not believe that the dream has yet been accomplished because despite all the equality that people of different skin colors have, there is still racism. And it shapes the nation greatly in a negative way.
I agree with tory!! I do think that people are making a HUGE deal out of this whole black president thing. Lots of people showed up at the inauguration just because hes black probably. Its a cool change but not something to keep talking about!
I think the "Dream" hasnt quite been acheived. As Martin Luther King said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I don't think this has happened though. Even if people willing to accept diffrent races outnumber raciests, there are still raciests out there. We have made significant progress.Some of the biggest role models today are from diffrent races. It's not unusual at all for us to see white and black kids playing together and in fact its quite common. This was very diffrent for our parents and grandparents it was looked down upon for them. And thanks to people like Martin Luther King Jr. and other people willing to voice their oppinion and to act upon it, we have gotten closer to the "Dream". But I don't think we will be their until all raciesm has passed. But I think we are making this too big of deal, that their are bigger more important problems we are facing right now. These problems are affecting everyone in America no matter their skin.
I belive that our country is trying hard to get rid of racism but some people dont belive in what MLK said. In a few years i think MLK's speech will be realized and people will start caring for others who's skin color is different of our own. I belive the U.S is changing because we have elected our first African American president and is trusting them more and more all the time. And soon racism will be gone and people will remember the courages man who stood up in what he believed
whoa im kinda late at posting!!!!! i was working on my process paper and stuff(haha)The blogging party can now begin! hoot hoot raise the roof!!!!
I agree with Austin and Joanna and everyone else who doesn't think that the dream is fully realized. Yes we did just elect an African-American president and Yes we are on our way to a country where racism isnt a problem but it still does occur. As wrong as it might be to act differently to a person just because the have a different skin color people still do it. This problem has become less of a problem over the years but i bet if you took a survey of 10,000 people at least one person will be against treating blacks like white people. America is on its way to becoming a color blind country and treating everyone the same! To prove this point we have African-American people in Congress, on the Supreme court, and now as the PRESIDENT!!!!! (GO OBAMA YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!) I myself have many African-American friends and treat them the same as my white friends. But as Martin Luther King Jr. said that he wants it to be a country with absolutely no racism im sorry to say to say that that hasn't happened yet. I do believe that if Martin Luther King Jr. was alive today he would be very pleased at America
oi thats mine and morgans blogging account!!!!
oh and by the way, this is Kira!!!!
I think that the dream of Marthur Luther King has been relized, because the colur of your skin really doesn't effect the world nearly as much as it did when he was alive. A great example that the dream has come true is that we now have the first African American president.
I totaly agree with Maria that the dream is realized and we are getting better but it has a little way to go before it is overcome. I do bileave that we will have this problem overcome or close enough to it that it won't matter anymore, that MLK's dream will come true. People will judge the content of our character and not the color of our skin. I do bileave that electing our first African american President is a huge leap to accomplishing our dream.
I disagree with Nat and Will. Just because more than half the country voted to have a black president doesn't mean raseism no longer exists and no matter how you try to cover it up it will still exist. Maria is right there are people who believe Obama shouldn't have gotten elected and no matter what they are going to keep thinking that. Look at Will we have our first black president. But Will doesn't half to like it. I'm not saying Will is a racist, but it is what Will's parents told him was the right choice and he is going to stick by his opinion. Maria is right if you don't think we haven't come a long way. Think about this after World War One there was a group of white people called the Ku Klux Klan and they went around killing blacks for no reason. That isn't happining today so think about how far we really have come. Okay for once I am not trying to be mean when I say this, but I think you are missing what the dream actualy is.
The "dream" is that blacks and whites can walk freely together and not have to worry about rasism. The "dream" is that one day there will be no race barrier that seperates the whites and blacks there fear of people coming to beat you up because of your race. So for everyone that thinks that the barrier is gone and I hate to break it to you but it isn't.
Will the barrier be gone I honestly don't know and I'm not going to act like I know, but mabye if we are lucky someday there will be no barrier.
I agree that the "dream" has been overcome but not achieved.
This post is from a parent. For the record, I am white and I voted for Obama. I don't think that MLK Jr.'s dream has been realized yet. We have certainly come a long way since 1963, but we are not all the way there. We are still not color blind. I got into an argument with a man at work on Tuesday who declared that he wasn't "racist" but couldn't celebrate the fact that an African-American was president. He said that he was sick of hearing about all the firsts that African-Americans have achieved. He thinks that if color shouldn't matter, than we shouldn't celebrate when a person of color achieves something. Only after enough African-Americans become president and achieve other "firsts" that it is no longer news-worthy to mention color (like Hillary Clinton is the 3rd female secretary of state and it is no longer a big deal), will we have achieved Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream.
Tory is right the dream has been realized to a point. She was also right when she said that tv was blowing this event up way to much. I don't think the people that are blowing it up realize that it has been blown up on every tv station. Right now Obama is the major news because he accomplished what no one thought was possible for a black man to acchieve for at least another hundred years. We have made a major accomplishment as a country and people are excited about it. I have to be honest I thought McCain was going to win because a lot of the people that were going to vote for Obama would go to the polls and ask themselves what they were doing. Then they would wonder if America was ready for its first black president.
We have yet to actualy realize the dream. I think that if MLK hadn't been shot we might be closer to realizing his dream and that he would be satisfied with our progress but still want more progress to be made so everyone could be treated fairly. His dream wasn't for blacks and whites just to be racialy equal but to improve our world in a way nothing else could.
Let's think about it this a different way, the way if MLK hadn't been born yet. Me and Tory probably wouldn't be in school with you guys and a lot of things that we got from blacks we wouldn't have. So we have probably come a lot more than most people think at first.
Mr. Veliz 's question on if this is a huge leap for African Americans it is it is a huge leap for everyone black who has waited for this moment their whole life and it just happened. This is also a huge leap for all the African Americans that gave up their life for thier country.
Obama doesn't represent the "dream". He represents so much more than that he represnts what many people have tried and failed that itself is an accomplishment. His being black just adds to it.
Lets think of it this way if no one knew what the candidates looked like until voting day we might have had a black president a long time a go depending on their intake of the issues. Obama represents the dream for everyone not just blacks but everyone because he acchieved the unthinkable. He is a role model for everyone that basically is not white nothing against whites but 43presidents have been white so Washington was your major accomplishment. This is the break through that blacks have been waiting for.
People if you picked McCain don't mope around like this is the end of the world. Obama is a new begging for everyone, so embrace it he is our president for the next four years
I for one agree that it has been realized. Because over the years, look whats happened! First we were all either slaves or slave drivers. Now, like Coner said, we are walking hand-in-hand together.
Hi i know im a liitle late but i forgot. SO yes i think that we have come a long way but i don't think the dream haas been realized. I think that some african americans only voted for barack becasue of his color not his issues. In this cas i don't feel like that has come a long way even though he is black. And yes i think that if MLK came back today he would be very happy but i still think we can come farther along. And not just look at the color of the skin but really get to knowa others even if there not just like you. So i think that MLK made an important decision on the day of his speech and that was that even though we are different we are all equal. Barack i think has some what based his ideas on the idea that we all can be equal no matter who is in charge. Even thought i don't think he is athe right man for the job i think our country has come a long way and can go a lot farther
Wow sydney how long did it take for you to write that reponse!!! just kidding, I toataly agree with you on everything you said. I had an incident this morning on the bus. I couldn't help but overhear these girls talking about how a black person shouldn't be elected or be successful ect. It was very rude and I couln't beleive what I heard. If going from the time of the civil rights movement to now in about 60 years, mabey in someones lifetime, than Im hoping we could reach further and become completely colorblind or close to it.
Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before I start what makes all you people think that since Obama is our new president doesn't mean rasism no longer exists so stop acting like Barack Obama ended rasism because he didn't and it still exists.
Cara is right we have come a long way but we still have a long way to go. Taylor was also right we should be working so that one day we are completely colorblind and we can be friends with everyone not just the people that look like you. Nat was wrong in her first blog just because Obama is our new president doesn't mean the racial barrier is anywhere near being gone. People voted for Obama most likely because he was black.
I think that barrier would be gone excpt for one thing. Some people care way to much about race. That was the problem we had about 40 years ago with MLK. People back then didn't think of blacks as blacks they thought of them as a waste of space. Before MLK people thought of blacks as a peice of property. If we could come this far from blacks being a peice of property to a waste of space in about 190 years, what gave us the idea that in 40 years we could become just as powerful.
I have to give Cara her props now she has stuck to McCain. She had a point that most people who voted for McCain probably think that we aren't ready for a black to be our president.
Mr. Veliz Obama isn't the exception to the race issue. No black is and people don't need to pretend that he is. Your question is the average African American living the dream. That depends on who you are because every one has their own interpritation of the dream. I think that blacks that are living the way they want and are doing what they want or love our living the dream for them. Right now I'm going to school Monday through Friday with whites something that 50-60 years ago might not have been happening. Dr. King wanted blacks to be able to go to the same school as whites and right now that has been acomplished and everyone is getting treated fairly that is what the dream was supposed to lead to.
Someone on the inogaration said that MLK and lots of other people we shouting up in heaven because we had a black president. I think that if MLK were still alive he would be proud of our progress but still think we could improve. I think MLK is proud of our progress but will be truly happy when the barrier is permanently gone and will never return. That is the day most blacks dead and alive are waiting for
Thanks everyone who agreed with me! Sydney is right, it is amazing that our new president is an African American, but that doesn't prove that America is a racisim free world. All it proves is that we've come a long way. Sorry Natalie, but I disagree. The dream hasn't been realized. If you think about it, there are still A LOT of people out their judging others by their skin color. But how can you convince someone that skin color doesn't matter? It's mission impossible. Again, children are going to be taught to hate other races and that's what they've been taught! It's not that easy convincing someone to change their tradition. It's like being taught your ABC's. If someone comes up to you one day and says, "That's not the right way to say the alphabet," you would be pretty confused and defensive. You wouldn't believe that person.
C'mon ya'll! Keep commenting! F and E period are beating us!
There is still so much more to discus.
Just listen to your heart and comment!
i gree with michael. and yeah f period is beating you. we rock!
Sorry Maria I think that we all agree that that the dream has not yet been realized but we have come along way in such a short amount of time and before you know it we'll be almost completely colorblind. There isn't much more to say about this topic. If anyone has something different to say please say it though!!!!!!
Taylor is right the dream hasn't been reached, but that cepends on who you are. Taylor you were wrong when you said that were almost colorblind because people are always going to jugde depending on how you were raised.
You guys have done an awesome job with this blog. A couple of points:
Did MLK "Dream" that racism would end completely, or that black Americans would have equal opportunity? Or is that the same? What are the chances that racism will ever end completely?
I'll have to be honest. As a Hispanic, I am not convinced that racism against Hispanics, or African Americans, or any other group will end completely. Ignorance will always be a part of human nature. But does that mean that the "Dream" will never be realized. I'm not arguing that it has been or hasn't been at this point, but perhaps there is less of a connection between racism and the dream that we think.
What do you think?
yaaaaaaah we all agree!!!!!!!!!
One more thing. I agree that there were probably some that voted for McCain or some other candidate because they felt that the US is not ready for a black president. However, I would also think that this would represent just a small percentage of McCain voters. There were serious political/philosophical differences between the two candidates, and this probably accounted for the decision of most voters. At least I hope.
To the parent that participated - thank you!! We need more parents doing the same. These are important things we're discussing here.
I think that (like what MLK said) that the content of your character should be judged by the person who is talking to you. Because if your being judged by your race you wouldn't like it. So i wouldn't judge anyone else the same way. I would never do that to some one else. So next time your talking to a black person or a hispanic or a chinese person, it is that we are all equal to one another so be a good person and don't judge people by their color.
Before I start what makes all you people think that since Obama is our new president doesn't mean rasism no longer exists so stop acting like Barack Obama ended rasism because he didn't and it still exists. Cara is right we have come a long way but we still have a long way to go. Taylor was also right we should be working so that one day we are completely colorblind and we can be friends with everyone not just the people that look like you. Nat was wrong in her first blog just because Obama is our new president doesn't mean the racial barrier is anywhere near being gone. People voted for Obama most likely because he was black. I think that barrier would be gone excpt for one thing. Some people care way to much about race. That was the problem we had about 40 years ago with MLK. People back then didn't think of blacks as blacks they thought of them as a waste of space. Before MLK people thought of blacks as a peice of property. If we could come this far from blacks being a peice of property to a waste of space in about 190 years, what gave us the idea that in 40 years we could become just as powerful. I have to give Cara her props now she has stuck to McCain. She had a point that most people who voted for McCain probably think that we aren't ready for a black to be our president. Mr. Veliz Obama isn't the exception to the race issue. No black is and people don't need to pretend that he is. Your question is the average African American living the dream. That depends on who you are because every one has their own interpritation of the dream. I think that blacks that are living the way they want and are doing what they want or love our living the dream for them. Right now I'm going to school Monday through Friday with whites something that 50-60 years ago might not have been happening. Dr. King wanted blacks to be able to go to the same school as whites and right now that has been acomplished and everyone is getting treated fairly that is what the dream was supposed to lead to. Someone on the inogaration said that MLK and lots of other people we shouting up in heaven because we had a black president. I think that if MLK were still alive he would be proud of our progress but still think we could improve. I think MLK is proud of our progress but will be truly happy when the barrier is permanently gone and will never return. That is the day most blacks dead and alive are waiting for
I think that (like what MLK said) that the content of your character should be judged by the person who is talking to you. Because if your being judged by your race you wouldn't like it. So i wouldn't judge anyone else the same way. I would never do that to some one else. So next time your talking to a black person or a hispanic or a chinese person, it is that we are all equal to one another so be a good person and don't judge people by their color.
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