by F.M

Created on: May 19, 2009

If one dissects Martin Luther King's I have a dream speech, there is a sad reminder that even after his passing, his dream has not been fulfilled.

King wished that both black and white men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. King then said: We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. Police brutality still exists to this day. The Philadelphia Independent Media Center has reported that "36 unarmed black men were killed by police between the months of April 2008 and May 2009". The verdict of the Jena 6 was also telling: a black man could be sentence to life in prison by simply participating in a schoolyard fight. The murder of Sean Bell under the hands of 3 police officers back in 2006 and the murder of Oscar J. Grant in the infamous Oakland Bart shooting, questioned police ethics especially when dealing with African Americans. In both instances, both black males were unarmed and outnumbered. The very entity that preserves peace is the very tool that is killing black men.

"Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed" King said as he discussed discrimination and segregation in America. Segregation and discrimination is hidden. It's one thing for a convicted felon to be denied a job opportunity; but, when race is involved, statistics tell a different story. Devah Page from Princeton University, in an article published on CNN, unearthed interesting results:

Among those with no criminal record, white applicants were more than twice as likely to receive a callback relative to equally qualified black applicants. Even more troubling, whites with a felony conviction fared just as well, if not better, than a black applicant with a clean background.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." he said. While Barack Obama prevailed as the first African American President of the United States, the discussion of race fuelled the campaign. While Barack Obama's African heritage was at the forefront of the campaign, his middle name Hussein garnered a lot of attention. While King's speech was predominantly for African Americans, something must be said about the other races that shape America. Some Americans feared that a Muslim would be elected as the leader of the free world. Even if Barack Obama was a Muslim, which he isn't, shouldn't the content of his character be judged rather than his religious affiliation?

There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges Martin Luther King said as he stood in front of his fellow men. Only time will tell!

Learn more about this author, F.M.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.