Has Much Changed Since the Days of Dr. King?

It has now been thirty-nine years since the shots rang out at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee where one of America's greatest leaders was assassinated. The man's flesh may have died but his dream will live on forever.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 to the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr and Alberta King. He was very well-spoken and a intelligent child. At the age of fifteen when many children were entering high school, Dr. King entered Morehouse College. He graduated from Morehouse in 1948. He went on to theology school and graduated in 1951.

In 1953 Dr. King married the very beautiful Coretta Scott. To this union four children were born, Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter and Bernice. He accepted the position of pastor at a church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dr. King accomplished so much in a short period of time. He has won many awards, accolades and honors. No doubt when Dr. king stepped onto the scene to fight injustice for people everywhere little did he know that he would leave such a lasting legacy. One that would echo through out the world. His "I Have A Dream" speech still rolls off the lips of billions.

But, I still must ask these questions. Have we let Dr. King down? If Dr. King could come back for a day what would he say about our current conditions? Looking at the Jena Six as one of many cases that still displays the racial inequities in our judicial system and sad to say our everyday lives. When six black teenagers were charged for beating their white classmate. One of the students was convicted of two counts of felony for their part in the beating and to add insult to injury this student was also tried as an adult. What sparked the Jena Six was a black student at the high school asked for permission from a administrator to sit under a tree where white students usually sat. The administrator gave the student permission telling the student they could sit anywhere they wanted to. The student and some of the other classmates sat under the tree. A few days later three nooses were hanging from the tree. A list of events soon transpired. The events that led up to the Jena Six had brought on a large demonstration that still question civil rights. This did not take place in the 1960's. This happened in 2007 and we are still marching for civil rights. Living in a society where double standards still reign. What would Dr. King say?

What would Dr. King say when a man can speak on live radio with thousands of people listening and disrespects young, beautiful, intelligent women, whom have made a quality decision to go to college and better themselves and give back to their community and society, yet on a national radio station they were called the W word. This is a shame and a disgrace to all people. Racism should not be tolerated in any form.

Please do not get me wrong. Yes, it has been thirty-nine years since Dr.King was assassinated and we as a people have made giant leaps and have covered much ground, at the same time we shall not fall asleep, we must continue to fight so that the dream can stay alive. Dr. King your death was not in vain.