Dreams are a part of the American way. They take many shapes and come at many times, but mostly at night when we're asleep. Most dreams can't be remembered once we're up and about for a day's activities; that is, unless they occur just shortly befre awaking. Then too, there are daydreams. These are usually wishes for something to occur or things we want. Martin Luth King, Jr. had a dream, a dream that would have to be categorized as more than a daydream. He was for a better, happier world among people.
For dreams to be any more than dreams, we must take them seriously and make them a part of our daily lives. King's dream was like that. He wanted all peop;e treated equally without regard for color of skin, sex, religion, or status in life and he worked toward this end. In his speech of August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., he said, "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 a table of brotherhood." Was this an impossible dream?
Though King was assassinated for his dream, the dream lives on. Whether it will ever be fully realized, we may never know. We can have all kinds of dreams, but until we make his dream our dream and work toward the goal of treating all people equally will anything be accomplished? Dreams must be thought of somewhat like a journey on the road to somewhere. We can't get there all at once, but mut travel as far as we can a day at a time.
African-Americans would like to claim King as their own. First and foremost, he weas an American. His daream was clearly for all people. Until we realiaze that we are all God's creation. King's dream will never even get onto the pathway of life.
