Reviving the Dream, Surviving the Reality
A Servant leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought untiringly for racial equality and social justice on behalf of all Americans. This was his dream. His efforts and ultimate sacrifice to uplift humanity have reserved for him a unique place in American and world history as well as in human hearts throughout the world.
In the decades following his death and the passage of civil rights laws, America has often pondered whether Dr. King’s dream has been or will ever be realized. Many have questioned whether the dream has died or is on life support, sustained only in the minds and speeches of a few idealists. Others believe that the nation needs to wake up from the dream and ingest a generous dose of modern reality, which may demand the dream’s abandonment.
Undeniably, favorable changes have occurred in America prompted by the efforts of Dr. King and others. Anyone in this country, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity, can seek access to any public accommodation with confidence that U.S. laws as written support the freedom of choice to do so. Further, there is an increasing number of minorities assuming leadership roles at virtually every level of government. Even the corporate glass ceiling appears to have cracked, if not shattered.
The social metamorphosis continues as residential neighborhoods previously off-limits to certain racial and ethnic minorities are now inhabited by the same once-excluded groups. Both public and private educational institutions nationwide have experienced racial integration and continue to diversify since the outlawing of the Jim Crow “separate but equal” doctrine.
Perhaps the crowning achievement of American society toward fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream of social justice and racial equality is the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the first African-American president of the United States. Many thought or said electing an African-American as president could never happen and, certainly, not in their lifetime. Others are pointing to this milestone as indisputable evidence that Dr. King’s dream has been fully realized and, therefore, affirmative action and other approaches to remedy past injustices are no longer necessary.
In light of all the progress made since the sixties, why do some still question the efficacy of Dr. King’s dream? The several reasons presented here are not exhaustive, but do provide a starting point for deliberation. While the doors of the nation's hospitals and clinics are theoretically open to all, regardless of race, the regularity and quality of health-care delivery to certain social segments are questionable. Consider, for example, information provided by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) concerning smoking by Blacks versus Whites. Although Blacks smoke at rates similar to that of Whites and have less exposure to tobacco smoke, they are more likely to suffer and die from lung cancer. Regarding mental health, the organization finds that minorities are less likely to receive needed services. Frequently, they are recipients of inferior quality health services and are underrepresented in mental health research. For many who lack adequate health insurance coverage, the nation’s emergency rooms have become the primary means of receiving health services.
Justifiably, the subject of equality in education still draws lively debate. More than 50 years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark opinion in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (Kansas), the nation still struggles with the task of trying to find an equitable yet politically agreeable way to provide public education. In K-12 programs, the obstacle is often the significant disparity of wealth between the various school districts. Where this disparity exists, it is likely that less money will be spent per student in districts with lower household incomes and property values than in the districts with higher incomes and property values. By comparison, minority communities generally fare worse. On the university level, court challenges based on reverse discrimination have been raised before an increasingly conservative judiciary to effectively quash affirmative action programs. These types of programs—initially developed to give certain minority groups a preference due to past injustices—are also meeting stiff challenges in the business world, as demonstrated in recent state referenda.
Fair housing, proper education, equal access to quality health care, and equal employment are closely related ideals. These are fundamental to freedom itself—the type spoken of by Dr. King. Invariably, the denial of any one of these has an adverse impact on the availability and/or quality of the others, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of doom. Yet these fundamental ideals remain unattainable by a disproportionate number of minorities.
President Barack Obama and a new generation of leaders must undertake the moral responsibility of reviving King’s dream amid these stark realities of contemporary America. In order to be effective and generate the necessary broad-based support, these issues may be best addressed in a manner that de-emphasizes race. This is particularly true in today’s fragile economy, which has been color-blind in its devastation fueled by sub-prime improprieties.
Though the dream lives on, it has suffered a painful existence. Pragmatism suggests modified solutions to the lingering inequality in education, health, housing, and employment. Our leaders must be prepared to meaningfully address such issues as racial profiling, the disproportionate number of incarcerated minorities, teen sexuality and pregnancy, high drop-out rates, low test scores (particularly among Black male students), drugs, guns, gangs, the digital divide in technology, and the need for self-respect and respect for others.
Technology, utilized so effectively in President Obama’s campaign, is evolving as one of the new tools to assist, reach, and gain the support of the masses as never before. New media such as the Internet, social networking, cell phone, video, and e-mail technology have opened doors in ways greater than previously imagined. Properly used, these can be quite effective to further social change. On the other hand, the value of the tried-and-true resources such as strong family support, church involvement, ethnic news-papers and radio cannot be discarded while the new technology is being embraced. These established institutions have provided and showcased a wellspring of talent, ideas, and other resources in the movement for change.
Effective leaders who hope to draw upon the legacy of Dr. King in the area of social change must be servant-leaders. They must be willing and committed to serve the persons who are to benefit from the hoped-for change. According to the words of the Master Teacher: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Having a heart for the poor, the disadvantaged, and the outcasts of the society of His day, Jesus Himself presented the perfect model for being a servant-leader.
No human leader is capable of effectively dealing with the types of problems that face America and the world without the example and help of Christ. Because of his sinful nature, mortal man is weak. His powers of intellect, reason, and judgment have been severely compromised and his morality degraded since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. See Genesis 3. However, there is no need to feel alone and powerless in the human effort to improve the plight of mankind. Jesus, who said: “For without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5), stands ready and willing to assist all who will minister even to the “least of these.”
SANDY C. ROBINSON III is a practicing attorney, writer, and speaker, residing in Huntsville, Alabama.
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