In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check...It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned...when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to spreed up that day when all God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Freed at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
If the excerpt above lacks familiarity, it is imperative that people from all races and backgrounds listen to the words from this historic speech. Without mentioning the key familiar phrase, the words come from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Historically, equality in America has been a constant struggle. It baffles me that it took until the writing of the Declaration of Independence for the Founding Fathers to state that all men in this world are created equal but the system today marginalizes people of every race and culture. Take for example the following groups: Women did not receive the right to vote until nearly 100 years ago and are still subjected to gender roles despite the rise of women in leadership and working positions; people who are LGBTQ affiliated are struggling to gain governmental rights and marriage recognition; Middle Eastern people are instantly targeted and profiled in a post 9/11 world living in fear of its own neighbors; Asians are rarely looked at and are treated merely as the model minority or competition.
Worst of all is the treatment of African Americans in the United States - From Slavery and Three-Fifths Representation to Emancipation, only to struggle in a Jim Crow / Civil Rights world. In the past few years especially, the violence drawn up Black Americans has led to conflicts in regards to aspects such as police brutality and racist sentiments that persist. Hence the growth of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
President Obama marches on March 8th 2015 in commemoration of the "Bloody Sunday" March in Selma, AL.
Photo Courtesy of DogoNews.com
In conversations with my friends, I often say "What a time to be alive," That phrase can be interpreted to come off as genuine or sarcastic whenever we talk about current events. Yet, 53 years later, Dr. King's dream has not come into fruition. Being in New York, I am a part of a racial melting pot where boroughs and neighborhoods are home to a great diversity of races. People of all colors interact in public and private spaces from schools to churches and government. Yet, we have adopted racist undertones that persist in everyday life. For some, we "jokingly" play with our friends of different races, making stereotypical comments and jokes in the form of a roast. Some people are fine with that. Others, however, are subject to racial prejudices that lead to inflammatory verbal and physical abuse - at times death.
With the upcoming 2016 American Presidential Election, the public is in fear of both major candidates for various reasons, such as pandering to racial crowds or inciting fear against people of color. Election aside, the dream of Dr. King, Jr. needs to be remembered as more than just a speech or only by its memorable four words, "I have a dream." The example we set for our children will determine the future of our nation. I know, it may sound naive, impossible, or easier said than done. But, if we willingly allow people to suffer through our silence, we will never know the true meaning of equality. America is making strides in keeping the dream alive, but as historians and contemporaries have noted, we still have a long way to ago until equality is met.
I will end this article with a quote that leaves room for thought, so take as you will: "Decisions are made by those who show up."
