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 83-years-old this year), would he be satisfied with the progress that has been made? Has King’s dream been realized?
Is it important that we set aside a day to remember the work of Dr. King? What is the best way to commemorate his life? As students, as a school, should we be doing something to remember King and educate the youth of today about his impact on our nation's history?
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 King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306
(32-minute film that we watched in class)
The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306 from Marc Altshuler - Human Music on Vimeo.
Important: Be sure to check back daily as I will be posing new questions and thoughts in the comments section.
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28 comments:
I think MLK's dream has done a lot to our society yet there is still more room to expand our kindness to every race. Most people have gotten the fact that racial profiling is wrong but some still are stupid and discriminate innocent people. If he were still alive I think he would just have a heart attack seeing how our community has changed so vastly. Obviously, MLK's dream did help our society in many ways against discrimination of race yet, we're human, and some people are just too shallow. Hopefully discrimination will disappear one day but it's hard to change people's personal opinions.
I agree with Caston. Our society has changed from there being a separate water fountain for african americans and whites. MLK would have wanted there to be no racism and everyone to be treated the same. Our community has changed of the years and so has our society. MLK would have been very surprised at just how much people can change and how peoples opinions are not set in stone.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a big impact on how people viewed whites and blacks being together. I find nothing wrong about this, and I myself support it because some of my best friend may be black, but I do not care because they are all equal. Segregation isn't right in my view because everyone is equal and when all people pile up, they create a diverse place where people can share culture, heritage, and different things brought to the U.S.A from peoples' home countries. Some people still might be very racist, for example, like the person that posted above me, which is really rude. After MLK Jr. died, he people still had racism and he didn't stop all of it. But since people all had to start going to same schools, jobs, and places as everyone else, they had to get along and needed to understand that everyone is equal. This is Mike Vasilyev, and I approve this message.
I think Caston has a good point, although there has been improvement in trying to put a stop to racial profiling, there are still some people who treat others unfairly on the basis of the color of their skin. Martin Luther King's Speech "I have a dream" has helped our society diminsh racism, but I think if he were still alive today, Martin Luther King would want absolutely no racism, discrimination or racial profiling. Although this is hard to accomplish, I think society can achieve in trying their best to be fair and get rid of discrimination altogether.
there is a debacle over our society blacks and whites will never coexist because humans are filled with jealousy and anger. We the people written in the united states constitution means everyone born or naturalized in america has the same rights. long ago they took that as white only and blacks not being people but things we can trade and sell. well let me ask you a question do they breath do they walk, talk , eat , sleep i should hope so!!!!
this is one of my many questionings on if we are a flawed and we must better help oneself by helping each other with our kindness, respect and, equality
i agree with caston about that. i think he is a major factor in how we try to treat ever race to day. he played as a major part in what we see to day has how we treat each other, he is the man and father of how we look at each other. M.L.K.Jr's dream has set the path against discrimination, like caston said you cont change people's personal opinions against each other, but i belive that M.L.K.Jr did that for some people, and that is why i think he should be remebered as the father to the way to a peaceful world!
Rachel has a good point on why we cant fix the problem, but we still need to realize that M.L.k.jr has done more than the eye can see, many people now to my opinion have tryed to make a better life without racism, thought some people do judge by there skin or color,i think what he did has set off on o his dream, though we have not reached that yet, we are growing closer! he is a maor part of history!
I agree with Ryan and caston I think that mlk would love the progress over the years yet I do not think he would be completely satisfied. There is still more that we can do to make all races even not just black but Indian or mexican. I think discrimination still exists today.
So, I think that MLK would be very happy because I think that racism isn't a big problem today. And I think that there isn't really racism just bias' or harsh stereo types. And it is really hard to stop racism because it is hard to change peoples beliefs and some adults were just born and raised to think that racism wasn't bad.
MLK's dream has lived on even to today. His speeches and actions have had the greatest influence on helping demolish racism. He has inspired many people to follow in his steps.
Martin Luther King has completely changed all the aspects of racism many people are inspired and changed by him everyday. there is no doubt in my mind that there are at least 1 million people that think about him daily, that's just how much of an impact he has had on the united states. Martin Luther King has just been a god given gift all 39 years impacted the demolition of segregation
I think MLK's dream speech has changed our society greatly in good ways but there is still some racism and we can't really stop that because it is not only with adults but with children too. I believe that some people's opinion's can be forever unchangeable, for those who do change have made this country what it is really about. My last point is that people have learned to laugh at racism or joke around with it which sometimes can be taken wrong, but really just means that we have gone past our racism stage so we should just look on to the future.
I agree with Jeremiah the dream is still very much in action and will be almost forever but its good to know that it will almost dissapear
I believe that we have come a long way since MLK started his marches, speeches, etc. Back then, African Americans could not even walk into a store without being thrown out or arrested. I agree with most of the bloggers. We're not done yet, but we're close. I think that if MLK were here, he would not be satisfied. There is still such thing as racial profiles and other stuff. I think some people in this world just don't get it. All MLK is trying to say here is that everybody is equal! Everybody has a personality and uniqueness and that shouldn't be destroyed by the way somebody looks. We are all born a different person and we should be PROUD of ourselves. MLK would agree that the world is not perfect, but people can start by being themselves and kind to others. What I've seen in those horrible videos about racism made me cry. It is not just for a living person to be treated like this. I think the people back then were just trying to make themselves feel better by taking it out on people that were different than them. Still- I mean seriously!- people of the 20th century! Even though MLK has passed, his dream doesn't end there. Us kids of the 21st century need to make things better and fix the mistakes of the past including racism. I think MLK would be really happy to see that happen!
I also agree with ryan the MLK just hoed the road or us but its our turn to make it into a highway
I agree with ryan.
I agree with ryan.
I agree with everyone on here in some way, except for what Grace said about the water fountains. In Indiana there are still separate things for African Americans and Caucasian(whites). I don't believe that Dr.Kings dream has been fully accomplished. Also to add I don't think that the world will be segregation free, it's just that there will always be one group of people that have a problem.
Hey, it's Kathryn from 2nd period. I agree with Darrell; we have come very far on the road to complete racial equality, but we haven't reached the "promised land" yet as a nation. There are some people who may never change their views on different races, because they were taught that it is ok. We should focus on the future, and focus on educating youth about MLK's life and why he died. There are people who are racist to Muslims because of 9-11, racial profiling, stereotypes, and hate crimes. Dr. King had a dream, but we have to put it into action.
I also agree that we have come very far as a society, and Martin Luther King would be very proud and glad of the progress we have made, but like Kathrynn said, I don't think we've quite made it to the "Promised Land", as MLK hoped and preached for.
MLK's dream has done a lot for society today. It help change how we view certain races and how people are treated. Although there is still racism,racial profiling,and stereotyping and will probably never stop MLK has done a lot to keep it to a minimum and make sure everyone has equal rights.
I agree with Jeremiah. We have come along way, and racism is not one of the main issues of today. I agree that Dr. King would be proud to know that.
From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to today, I do believe we, as a country have worked very hard to "break the barriers of racial profiling." However, like Caston, I do believe we still have a long way to go. I do believe Dr. King would be satisfied with the work we've accomplished if he was still alive today because from the sanitation workers strike all the way up to the inauguration of our first african-american president, we have, in term of racial equality, driven far away from that time so-to-speak. Because of this, I believe it's of the highest importance we set aside a day for Dr. King not just for a day of remembrance, but a day to cherish the movement, the man, and the dream he shared with tons of people. I also think students should be educated about this as well because if we're educated about it, then we can carry on the dream as well.
If MLK was alive today I think he would be proud on how the people changed because now everyone is equal not seperate but equal. What I mean is that we all drink out of the same fountain and that type of thing. I think his dream means today is that no matter how different we look, are all equal.
If MLK was alive today I think he would be proud on how the people changed because now everyone is equal not seperate but equal. What I mean is that we all drink out of the same fountain and that type of thing. I think his dream means today is that no matter how different we look, are all equal.
like caston Said His dream has done alot to our society. Hatred still exists. most people know racial segeration is bad but there are still bad people in the world like always. If he was still alive i think he would be happy to see wat his dream has accomplished. Again there are still bad and mean people in the world but hopefully they find out about kindness.
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