by Tim Williams

Created on: January 21, 2010   Last Updated: January 22, 2010

"Where have all the flowers gone", a song made popular by the Kingston Trio back in the early 1960's. It was a time of innocence, thou we thought. The United States was finally emerging from the shadow of World War II as the leader of nations of the whole world.

Sure, there was unrest in our society back then but it was pretty much kept out of the public eye by not exposing the racial inequalities that have been escalating within the United States for over one hundred years.

 
Racial inequality has been and is continuing to disrupt the moral conscious of the United States. Even though today we are better off than we were in the 1950's, we still have a long way to go to actually achieve racial equality and equal treatment for all African-Americans.
 
What started in Little Rock Arkansas in 1957 and in Montgomery Alabama, later exemplifies the fact that through the courageous acts by nine African Americans high school students and Rosa Parks, sparked a national awareness of racial inequality and lack of support for equal rights and treatment for all African Americans.
 
A national movement ensued led by Reverend Martin Luther King to rid this nation of the injustices and abominable treatment of African Americans. Not only was he focusing the nation on the mistreatment of African Americans but of all human beings no matter their color, race or religion.

Much of what was started by Dr. King has continued today, but much more still needs to be done to actually realize what he was trying to accomplish. That the injustices against humanity must be eradicated so that all races will be able to live in harmony.
 
The facts today indicate that we have much to do to realize the reality of racial equality. In every city the unemployment rate for African Americans is almost twice as high as it is for white Americans. Nationally the rate for African Americans is hovering at 18%. In cities like New York, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles, the unemployment rate is over 25%.

Some of the blame lies with the current economic crisis but the vast discrepancy between Whites and African Americans indicates that the governmental policies have not addressed the issues of racial equalization enough.

Until the nation comes together in educating all Americans that every human being no matter their race, color or religion has the inalienable right to life, liberty, and to be able to pursue whatever vocation they choose, not only will African Americans but every American will suffer the consequences of the failure of not achieving racial equality and equal treatment for everyone. 

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