With the death of Yolanda Denise King, thoughts of her father’s dream come to mind, at least for me, as I’m
sure for many of you.
I agree with the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of
their character.” Oh, but for the perfect world it would be!
Of course to put that sentence into what I believe Mr. King would say now, it would go more like this: “I
have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin, their gender, their religion, or their sexual preference, but by the content of their
character.” I think, like me, what Martin Luther King, Jr. would like to see this great nation be is a place
where what you are and what you believe would not make any difference whatsoever as to how you were
treated. The only thing that would determine that would be the person that you are and the things that you
do in this life.
Today there are many who claim they are fighting for equality for the blacks, but then they run to the aid
of those who are rightfully accused as well as those who are wrongly so. The ones who speak out
strongest with words to encourage rather than discourage aren’t lauded as the great Americans that they
are—people like Bill Cosby, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice—but rather attacked as though they were
speaking against the black community. Really, his words were not far from what I feel Martin Luther King
was searching for—a country where the only thing you would be judged by was your own actions and
words, or your own personality, or your character—not a place where you are excused from the
consequences of your actions because you are Black or Hispanic or Indian, or anything else.
“When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir," King said.
When Mr. King said those words he wasn’t talking about anyone getting special rights of any kind. He was
only asking that every American be treated equal under the law, of society and of the court.
Unfortunately his words have been misused and misquoted so much over the years that his message has
been diluted and distorted. Yes, he fought for the rights of blacks, but not for them to be treated special,
or different, just for them to be treated just like anybody else. He wanted them to have the chance to get a
better education, get better jobs, and be able to provide a wonderful life for themselves and their family—
the rights he felt were given by God and by the law. I only wish people would remember one other thing
about the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. His words ring true for all. Every American deserves to be
treated equal to any other, under any and all circumstances, and should be.
sure for many of you.
I agree with the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of
their character.” Oh, but for the perfect world it would be!
Of course to put that sentence into what I believe Mr. King would say now, it would go more like this: “I
have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin, their gender, their religion, or their sexual preference, but by the content of their
character.” I think, like me, what Martin Luther King, Jr. would like to see this great nation be is a place
where what you are and what you believe would not make any difference whatsoever as to how you were
treated. The only thing that would determine that would be the person that you are and the things that you
do in this life.
Today there are many who claim they are fighting for equality for the blacks, but then they run to the aid
of those who are rightfully accused as well as those who are wrongly so. The ones who speak out
strongest with words to encourage rather than discourage aren’t lauded as the great Americans that they
are—people like Bill Cosby, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice—but rather attacked as though they were
speaking against the black community. Really, his words were not far from what I feel Martin Luther King
was searching for—a country where the only thing you would be judged by was your own actions and
words, or your own personality, or your character—not a place where you are excused from the
consequences of your actions because you are Black or Hispanic or Indian, or anything else.
“When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir," King said.
When Mr. King said those words he wasn’t talking about anyone getting special rights of any kind. He was
only asking that every American be treated equal under the law, of society and of the court.
Unfortunately his words have been misused and misquoted so much over the years that his message has
been diluted and distorted. Yes, he fought for the rights of blacks, but not for them to be treated special,
or different, just for them to be treated just like anybody else. He wanted them to have the chance to get a
better education, get better jobs, and be able to provide a wonderful life for themselves and their family—
the rights he felt were given by God and by the law. I only wish people would remember one other thing
about the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. His words ring true for all. Every American deserves to be
treated equal to any other, under any and all circumstances, and should be.
 | |  | |  | |  |
| Equal Rights for All |
| Melissa Hill May 2007 |