Dr Martin L. King Jr.: Where are we at with the dream today?

Simply put, and well said.

Many of the issues we have, IMO, stem from the divisiveness that we impose on ourselves and by and large our leaders. I think our leaders enjoy the divisive nature as it creates a more mallable and easier to control population.

How true. The 24 hour news cycle has lent itself to sensationalism over truth. The end result is dividing rather than uniting Americans all for money and manipulative power. Many polls have shown that an overwhelming majority of Americans identify as Christians. One would never know this as the spin doctors lead us to believe otherwise. No matter what our beliefs, we should identify our similarities and not our differences and build on that.

People like Dr. King could not have been as prominent if not for people like Booker T Washington who paved the way. If people truly understand what Booker T said below, the race hustlers would be shunned and out of business.

"Character, not circumstances, make the man."

"There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs." 1911, My Larger Education Pg 118

There are still compassionate people in every Race that is tired of the division and making an effort to make things better. Caucasians in the past during slavery and present put their lives in harms way for equality for all in this country, Dr. King picked up the torch during his day.

The question that should be asked now, is do people know the message of the prominent leaders of civil rights. Do they live by the values they espoused or just parrot them or do they even know them. Here is an example of a speech given by Malcolm X who despised the D party which most people haven't heard. If people heard and understand this speech would they vote the way they do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BYVv4LY_KQ

We are living in times where people are crazy and selfish, I look at the younger generation how their hearts are harden. So many don't care about nothing, they looking at fame and power.

Light years TOP. But, I believe we will see respect, peace, and understanding for all Americans in my lifetime.

Spot on. This is a sensitive issue and one that's been covered so many times. Regression within race relations is due to both sides outlook and behavior. They just don't make men and women like they used to. We have so many ignorant, spoiled, media hungry knuckleheads that can't see five minutes in the future. Dr. King and those who supported his cause, WHITE and BLACK sacrificed so much. The African American's faced injustices and shed blood and died for the freedoms that are spit on today by these ungrateful snobs. White people were also discriminated and brutalized for having a heart and supporting Dr.King's movement. What really upsets me is the level of disrespect from everyone. Why in the living hell did they sacrifice so much for? We've got serious social class instabilities that worsen other areas.

African Americans cannot cry black lives matter at every instant where there's another race involved in the murder and turn the other cheek when their own are turning on each other over petty disputes. What I strongly feel is that the African American race is missing a leader, mentor, an objective third party to help guide our youth and stray away from the media, sports and crap that doesn't matter. Almost every young kid growing up in my neighborhood aspired to be a sports legend or music artist(which isn't bad) but in my opinion there's no essence in that. You get paid to throw, catch a ball, and certain artists get paid to scream nonsense and spew ignorance through speakers. I don't see why these people get paid more than doctors and other occupations. Chasing dreams is all good in my book but you don't give up on responsibilities to chase a dream. Priorities need to be in order. Many communities lack a real leader whom is there to support and raise our youth correctly.

Many white people haven't changed their mindset and ideals regarding other races. They still feel that they're the dominant ones and others are feeble and beneath them. I see the racism here, and other social media platforms. My wife and I play video games at least two times a week and utilize the chat within gameplay. I am called a nigger all the time online and it comes mainly from white people. How can I honestly say our country has gotten better with race relations when all I see is animosity in many areas? We all have an obligation to uphold standards and eliminate ignorance. Accountability for all. So yes, I do agree things have gotten worse in the past few years, but it hasn't been the worst. I try to continue reminding myself that it was just in 1964 when segregation was put to an end. I do see that other forms of segregation do exist, i.e. private and social segregation. It's only been a few decades and if anything I can label history up to our present time as residual effects from the past.

King's dream was for racial equality, not racial division, or riots. One of Kings great accomplishments was his ability to maintain peaceful protests, even at the cost of his own life. I do not think King would approve of what is going on today. Just my opinion based on what I have read of him.

Very well said CPT (Join to see) The saddest part of all, is our nations and states leadership is failing in uniting the people. It is going to take strong leadership to reunite the people. Too many in leadership positions are using a few incidents to widen the division that will eventually destroy our country from within.