Today, on MLK Day, I spent time listening to a recording of the August 28, 1968 speech given in front of the Lincoln Memorial. This is across from where tomorrow, the 1st African-American president will be sworn in. My own personal dream is that, as white southerns, when Kate and Ashton are old enough to realize the meaning behind what he spoke of, it will be so far distant in history they will never be able to relate to it. That is my dream.
"...And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
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.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true."
I think that beyond black and white, there are new challenges today that Martin may not have seen coming. I feel and see a spreading gap between the many Latino and South American immigrants that reside in the south, helping to literally lay the foundations and build the walls of our ever sprawling suburban lives. With Richard and Renee as close friends I hope this helps the children see beyond color and/or origin and judge on content of character (as MLK spoke of). Also, as members of a the upper-low class or lower-middle class, there are tremendous disproportionate opportunities for people that are under privilege. And, females still lack equal representation in many fields and senior level jobs. So, as the white southerns Martin spoke of, the preception is false that Ashton and Kate hold all the power. They themselves will face struggles against what they are born into, but I still naively hope that life does not limit them based on any limits that they do not impose on themselves.
Life is too short to fill with hatred of differences, when we all have something amazing to offer. Ashton and Kate, if you read this, seek the good and interesting qualities in people, be mindful of the bad and derogatory, and never stop learning through travel and interacting with people of all backgrounds, race and origins.
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