Less than 24 hours from now, America will swear in Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. It is appropriate, at this historic point in American history, that today also happens to be Martin Luther King Day. The poignant civil rights leader, who championed equal rights for all Americans, would be proud to have been around for tomorrow’s festivities.
The issue of race still has a long way to go in our culture. We have long strained our social and economic relations in America based solely on the issue of race. Racism is still very much present in everyday life.
With Barack’s inauguration, hopefully we will build on the momentum of this movement and continue to work together. Discussions on race shouldn’t start with ‘we’, ‘they’, or ‘them’. We’re Americans. And we’re humans. It doesn’t always have to be about white, black, hispanic, or asian. I’m not, however, advocating a color blind society because that would impair the great things that each race’s history brings to the table in our society.
I am hopeful for the negativity and hate to subside that evolves from race. We can overcome our past prejudices and welcome a new day for race in America. It starts with the individual. Be an independent pioneer of racial equality. If you hear something ‘bad’ about a different race; anything you don’t agree with, is untrue, offensive, or just plain ignorant, speak up for yourself. We’ll never achieve pure equality if we don’t start the dream in our own lives.
And finally, Dr. King’s historic ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ is below. The message still rings as clear today as it did decades ago. We are one race, human. And until we battle racism with vigor, it will persist. President Obama’s election goes a long way in the hope for racial equality – but it is only the start. Let’s independently renew our plight against racial injustice.
