Living the Dream: Almost 40 Years After MLK America Still Struggling with Racial Equality Issues

All over the world and in particular in this nation, demonstrations, parades, and speeches were hosted to mark this country's federal holiday January 21, observing the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. People of all colors, nationalities, religions, and walks of life paid tribute to the slain servant who led a nation to humble itself, to not only recognize the tragedies it was bestowing upon its own citizens, but also gather the courage to turn from its wicked ways.

In the 1950's and '60's a leader emerged in America to shine a light on the horrors of racism and segregation. Using the SCLC as his springboard, Dr. King began (with the support of many of his fellow ministers and friends) on a journey to change the hearts and minds of Americans. In his quest unify the race through methods of a higher calling, King left a legacy of peace that is celebrated worldwide, evidenced by his receipt of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

The world today is a far cry from the days when Martin marched the streets of America with the likes of Reverends Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson, Sr., Ralph Abernathy, John Lewis, and even my own father joined him in Selma, Washington, D.C., along with many other average and prominent citizens.

Zoom forward 40 years and check out the developments that have evolved from those demonstrations and we find that there have been so many milestones and improvements within our system of government. There are no longer separate classrooms, restrooms, eating establishments, or public seatings for Blacks and Whites. We can sit or stand next to one another anywhere we choose. Still with all the advances one still has to ponder why all the societal ills remain.

If we dare look at public education today, we find that our nation's children are more at risk than ever in history. Taking it a step further and zoom in on young black males. A very disturbing trend has surfaced: 1 in 4 entering the ninth grade will not graduate from high school. The high school drop out rate is at an all time high. I'm certain this is not how Martin saw his dream unfolding. It is a far cry from the times when people of color saw education as the way to a better life.

Years after so many of our parents and grandparents diligently struggled for the opportunity to learn how to read and fought for educational change, many of young people today are completely removing themselves from the learning process and opting to drop out of school without any thought about the drastic impact it will make upon their lives and livelihoods.

A report released by the U.S. Department of Justice states that the number of imprisoned Americans reached an all-time high last year. Guess who's leading the pack? African-American men made up 37 percent of all inmates incarcerated, yet only barely comprise 6 percent of the nation's population. Many of these inmates are there on drug-related charges. They are likely locked up trying to make some fast money or catch a fast high. According to the report, 4.8 percent of all Black males were incarcerated, compared to Hispanics at 1.9 percent and White males at 0.7 percent. In fact jail and prison populations have increases to a total of more than 2.24 million in the United States. It's a very disturbing trend that doesn't seem to be curbing off anytime soon.

Today's youth are bombarded with images of a bling-bling lifestyle, pumped-up prison culture, and a sexually charged mentality that has easily led many African-American women to suffer from low self-esteem, incredibly high rates of teen pregnancy, and perhaps foremost as demographics are concerned this particular slice of Americans (black females) has ballooned into the number one category of new HIV/AIDS cases.

With less young African American males graduating from college and more entering the nation's prison population, the staggering statistics are simply heartbreaking. This is not what Dr. King dreamed for our young brothers and sisters who have reaped the benefit of their forefather's struggle against racism in America. It's a generation who many primarily have practically had everything given to them, hence, the lack of instillation of a hard-work ethic, or motivation to be successful in achieving a noted skill, trade, or professional capacity. Too many are trying to be Rap Stars, Drug Dealers, Pimps, Prostitutes, Strippers, and Hustlers - representative of the prominent images being broadcast freely over the airwaves these days. The era of these occupations being portrayed in a negative light has somehow flipped and today all of these degraded roles are glamorized into a positive cultural movement.

What a difference a mentality makes. No thanks to Black Entertainment Television (BET) for its role in promoting positive images of people of color. The network did start out in the mid-80s on the right side of the fence initially presenting balanced programming to the masses covering news from a black perspective, community affairs programs, and a variety of shows our forefathers would be proud of - but then they "SOLD OUT" a long time ago, prior to their sale to Viacom. Here in 2008, there is isn't a news program or anything worthy from the "black perspective" for those with intellectual appetites on the network. It's sad that what it primarily represents today is a host of video music programs that promote all the negative images mentioned earlier in this article. All the women in skimpy clothing to nearly nothing shaking their back-and front sides all over the place and the guys with baggy oversized frumpy layers of casual and sports-induced clothing they think looks stylish, when in fact it's purely tacky and uncute. There is nothing cute about stupidity or ignorance. Many African-Americans are ashamed of the network entirely because is these damaging portrayals being broadcast all over the world.

Today, you can find boycotts of the BET Network on the internet, many college campuses, and throughout the community. Too many people fought and gave their lives for this kind of junk to be the predecessor of our future. Focusing on music and the mentality that feeds it, community leaders have called for ban of the "N-word." In July 2007, at the NAACP's 98th Annual Convention the derogatory word was laid to rest in a pine coffin by the more than 8,000 in attendance. Board Chairman Julian Bond said, "the entity in this casket deserves to be dead. We are here to celebrate this death and say to the entire world that this is an unacceptable word. It was never a good word. It doesn't matter who says it, who speaks it, what the color of the skin is. It's an ugly word. At dirty word, and it never ought to be used again."

Organizers of the event hoped to send a message to the world that its campaign to stop use of the "N-word" will help to deglamorize it among the rapping community whose songs are rife with the word. Rapper Kurtis Blow spoke at the event and shared his thoughts with the audience about how the shift in Rap for him has been disheartening.

There are organizations in place working to intervene and turn to the tide, bringing hope, resolutions, and bridging the gap. Perhaps, if everyone would begin to follow the philosophy of "each one, teach one," we can bridge the gap much sooner. Today were are gearing up to vote for presidential candidates that include a black man, Sen. Barack Obama who has a change at actually leading the White House or a white woman, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton whose experiences with people of color find her highly favored to take the mantel. Yet, there are many inequities remaining and a generation that seems uninterested in protesting against the tide and a fading group of champions trying to train new generations to fight for hope and their rights.

What would Martin say about America today? Would he hold his face in his hand and cry out or would he be proud of the many accomplishments made by African-Americans in their respective fields. A lot of progress has been made in many areas but we cannot let it divert attention away from all the decay that has devoured the hearts and minds those who choice to take the low road. There's still a lot of work to do in America and if we can get control of the riff-raff, drug epidemic, black-on-black violence, rampant unprotected sex, and any other contributing factors establishing an ignorant mindset, maybe one day we will all be "Free at Last" to enjoy the American Dream precisely the way Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned it.

"When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."
- Excerpts from "Where Do We Go From Here?"
Martin Luther King Jr., 1967