On what would have been his 97th birthday, we can only imagine what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would have to say about the current racial landscape in America. The country has certainly changed since his tragic assassination in 1968, and even since the federal holiday was established in his honor in 1983.
Despite the progress that has been made, there are still real inequities that Black Americans face. The disproportionate number of crime victims in black communities, the decline of public schools that were once a pathway to social mobility, and the growing divide between African-Americans and the Democratic Party are all issues that Dr. King would likely be concerned about.
However, it is impossible to deny the vast progress that has been made. The election of an African-American president for two terms is a testament to the transformation that Dr. King’s movement brought about in America’s sensibility. Race is no longer a barrier to the ballot box or to elective office.
Dr. King’s civil rights movement challenged white America to confront and eliminate racism through moral power, nonviolence, faith, civil disobedience, and a demand for full equality. In just 13 years, he achieved his goals through persuasion rather than coercion, despite facing barbarity from those who sought to maintain injustice.
While Dr. King would surely be dismayed by the injustices that still exist today, he would also be encouraged by the progress that has been made. He would likely be distressed by the lack of honest dialogue about race and the tendency to label those who disagree as racists. He would support movements like Black Lives Matter but would also condemn any misuse of funds or personal gain by its leaders.
As a passionate supporter of Israel, Dr. King would be troubled by the rise of antisemitism and the abandonment of the Jewish state by some of his former allies. Above all, he would be saddened by the fact that his dream of a society where people are judged by their character rather than their skin color has not been fully realized.
Dr. King’s message of equality and dignity for all is universal, and he would likely be critical of movements that perpetuate racial grievance and division. His legacy lies in his ability to combat injustice by appealing to the highest aspirations of Americans, and that is why the nation continues to honor him today.
