How Can We Actualize Dr. King’s Dream?

On almost the 53^rd anniversary of the magnificent “I Have a Dream Speech” delivered by the unparalleled Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we’re once again celebrating his life, legacy and of course, his dream. In the decades since his passing, how close have we come to realizing his dream? While we can acknowledge a plethora of events that would have surely made Dr. King proud – President Obama’s two presidential terms, two black U. S. Attorney Generals, record-breaking number of black college graduates, etc. – we must all admit that we have fallen short. We are still not in place where skin color is invisible, where we’re judged solely on our character, where anybody can go out in any neighborhood without fear of not returning home.

No matter or our collective shortcomings, now is especially the time to reflect and make a commitment to making Dr. King’s dream a reality. Simple things can go a long way such as volunteering in our community, mentoring a youngster, giving to the church, or holding a conversation and starting a dialogue of understanding with a person different from ourselves. In the vein of “I Have a Dream,” here’s the full speech in all of its glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0yP4aLyq1g