Today as we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I want us all to remember that we can be King. The premise of King’s legacy is that we all are capable of greatness, if we protect the basic tenants of freedom we all are entitled to. The inability for us to care for the well being of all races, nationalities and creeds is what makes King’s message still so relevant today.

We have activists and celebrities that are leading the charge forward. We have some politicians who are trying to legally advance the cause of equality and justice for all, but it’s not enough. For all of these people we have the prejudicial people, the racist people, the discriminating people. These are the things that are keeping us back as a people, as a nation.

See the reason that King’s message is so relevant is because today we have a President who spews racist, hateful, divisive rhetoric daily. We have a U.S. Senate full of individuals who refuse to take a stand against such behavior and verbal discourse. They turn a blind eye to the harmful discourse this President perpetuates because they want to keep their jobs.

We have a block of citizens who refuse to call bull shit on this President. They accept his idioms and boastful comments as him shaking up Washington D.C. and breaking from the norms, that they feel is necessary. When in reality it is a form of quiet racism and hatred that prevent us from becoming a better people. Why is it acceptable for us to allow for a political party to divide us as a nation? Is it because we are too comfortable being boxed into our circles that we can’t call out negativity.

King said Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. That should ring true in all walks of life. It should be true in all corners of this nation and society as a whole. King said that he had a dream that we would live in a world we won’t be judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. We have not reached that dream just yet. We’re making progress but we’re still far behind.

That statement from King was momentous. We’re currently sitting in a place where we have seen the first black president, the first female candidate for president from a major party, we’ve seen the most diverse field for President by Democrats, but more work is needed. We need more inclusion in all areas, we need more accountability and empathy in this society. King wanted us to be that type of people where we move beyond the racial divisions and religious differences of people.

As we sit here today the first month of the decade of the 20’s, we’re still faced with many question from the past. Will we ever see true equality; racial, sexual, financial? I have a dream on this day.. I have a dream that we achieve the first woman president. I have a dream that we will see true equality for the LGBTQ+ community. I have a dream that black and brown people will take their place as equals, that all people from all creeds will stop being discriminated against. I have a dream that we will be able to love each other for who we are.

From whatever view you look upon. No matter if you are white or black, gay or straight, rich, poor or middle class, American, Asian, African, Muslim and all in between. Understand and know that this is still one nation. We ultimately will rise and fall on the unity amongst us all. So stop looking at the person who is different from you as a threat or challenge. Look at them as your brother and sister. Encourage, up lift and help one another. Do this and the dream of King and me and others will come true.