Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every third Monday in January, our family listens to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's. speech. After the speech, we drive down to the Capitol to walk down 11th street to Huston-Tillotson University with thousands of other Austinities.  Every year, people sing, chant, carry signs, and have a good time just walking together knowing that we are all their for the same purpose - to honor this man that gave us his dream.   This year was no exception.  

The speech is always moving.  Dr. King was a powerful orator.  I think a lot about him when I listen to Obama speak, one of the best orators today.  There is something about the way they deliver their speeches that speaks to my soul.  It's as if they are talking just to me and I need to listen.  We don't make the children sit and listen, but as the speech echoes through the house, I'm sure they can hear his thunderous voice and his magical words.  We're hoping those words are embedding deep into their consciousness and that they too will work towards helping all people achieve Dr. King's dream.

At the march, this year, there were thousands of people wearing Obama shirts and Obama signs.  My favorite was one carried by a child.  It said, "My grandpa walked with Martin Luther King in 1963."  It is a great feeling to walk beside other people who believe in this great man. It is especially moving to see older African-Americans who can barely walk being pushed on wheelchairs or walking on canes.  They believe in the dream.

Today part of that dream becomes reality -- Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States; the only African-American to be president in our country's history.  Why I wonder did it take almost 50 years for Dr. King's dream to come to fruition? We still have so much work to do when it comes to bringing minorities' standard of living up to par with the white standard of living in this country.  How can we say the dream is achieved when more than 30% of all African-American children live in poverty?  Or when 12% of all African-American children do not live with either parent?  For many years, we have ignored this group.

My dream and hope is that with Obama in the White House, these issues will come to the forefront and become a priority for our country finally fulfilling Dr. King's dream.  Yes, we can!!!!! 

TTYL.