Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream rooted in the notion of the “American dream” being attainable for everyone, regardless of their skin color. I often wonder if he were still alive, would this life as we know it represent the dream he spoke of?
Having the opportunity to become successful and make your dreams become a reality no matter your race, religion, sexual orientation, or social class is how I envision the American dream. The problem is that the keyword here is the opportunity. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made that speech, he spoke about his hopes that one day we would live in a world where your skin color did not dictate whether or not you would have access to the means to see your dreams become a reality.
The harsh reality is that despite the many changes that we have witnessed over the years, people of color are still at an egregious disadvantage regarding opportunities and access.
We have all recently been made aware, very publicly, of the discrimination that people of color still face daily. There is so much controversy surrounding mass incarceration and discrimination within the judicial system, where the odds are stacked against men of color in particular, to educational disparities. Whether the issue is social class or differential treatment, the fact of the matter is that we still see a huge racial divide within these systems.
It becomes clearer every day that there is so much more work to be done.
I typically pride myself on keeping a positive attitude and making a conscious effort to look at the glass as half full. However, the last several months have not given me a moment to rest and reset. I am constantly in shock, watching the news, or scrolling through social media.
It seems like no matter how far it may seem like we have come, we are still so far away from being a nation undivided.
I am grateful for all that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did for the civil rights movement, and I am so proud of all of the people who are dedicating their minds, bodies, and souls to demand the changes that are so long overdue.
I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief and, quite frankly, disgust; because I know that this was not his dream.
