"I Have A Dream"

Monday, January 19, 2009

“What is your dream?” Reverend Dr. Harry L. White, Jr., asked the sea of faces sitting in North Carolina Central University’s Duke Auditorium. “Everyone keeps talking about MLK’s dream, but what is your dream?” The Reverend challenged us to think about what each of us has done that is worth celebrating. I asked myself, “What do I have to celebrate? And what will I do between today and next year that will be worthwhile to myself and others?” He emphasized the importance of dreams by reminding us that “the only thing that should be larger than your dream is your imagination.”

The Reverend’s words rang so clearly. If Martin Luther King, Jr. had not dreamed, envisioning that all people, despite the color of their skin, might one day live in a country where they would not be “judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”, I wonder...where would we be today? Where would we be without the dreams lived out through the actions of Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Elie Weisel, and Bono?

He mentioned a poll featured on CNN that asked Americans (on MLK day and in reference to Barack Obama becoming the first multiracial President), “Is the dream yet realized?” I agree with what Reverend Dr. Harry L. White, Jr. said in response. I don’t think that we, Americans and as one nation, have quite realized the dream. There are still obstacles to overcome and mountains to climb. In our country, there still exist accounts of hate, prejudice, crime, and discrimination. “When we don’t know who we are,” he said, “There are still obstacles to come, and a Dream to be realized.” I think the dream is coming true, but we still have a long way to go, I am hopeful for our new President, but it is going to require all of us coming together to live out the dream.

Had there not been a King...

Other Reflections
Today felt like I was back “home” in Ghana. I miss the soul, the energy, the love that is so evident when a community comes together. I was so thankful to be surrounded by a diverse sea of faces, Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics.

In front of me sat two adorable African-American children. Their joy was contagious and I could not stop smiling at them. I introduced myself to their aunt, Andrea Ingram, who I hope to grow to know even more over the semester.

I am hopeful and excited for our country. There is this feeling of unprecedented hope in the air, I just hope that we will embrace it, act on it, and hold our fellow Americans accountable so that it might blanket each person just as heavily and as thickly as it feels today, for the years to come.