Dream of Equity and Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr.

“I Have a Dream.” This powerful declaration by Martin Luther King Jr. more than 60 years ago continues to move, inspire, and motivate those who believe in and love equity in the world today. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is a solemn time to remember and renew his hope and our hope that this dream of equity can become reality for a better America for all people.

Recognizing the Dream

On August 28, 1963, King delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He quoted the bold words of the Declaration of Independence and reminded listeners that some of those promises had yet to be fulfilled, especially to people of color. Still, he held tightly to the promise of those words:

Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

He applied this personally:

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. I have a dream today.

King’s dream of equity still resonates in our today, but it needs nurturing to keep it alive. I want to share some powerful resources to help individuals in our nation overcome attitudes and actions of prejudice.

Learning about Racism

In Washington, DC, Kyle R. Williams founded an antiracism activation experience called A Long Talk About The Uncomfortable Truth. It gathers peoples from all over the United States to study our nation’s troubled history with racism. I learned about this program after members of Brigham Young University Athletics participated. I joined in, and I heartily recommend it.

Here’s how it works. Folks who are interested in the program commit to watch a “a multimedia collection of content reflecting the truth about the history of racism in the United States and the impact it continues to have on our society today.” Then the “long talk” portion begins with two two-hour sessions hosted by a moderator. During the sessions, participants learn a CPR protocol: clarifying, probing, and recognizing. This protocol empowers folks to calmly use active listening to restate a troubling racist statement, ask how that statement might make a person of color feel, and then seek a better path forward if the person is open to learning and extending their dream of equity.

Healing the Wounds of Racism

Darius Gray, a founding member and former president of an organization called Genesis, which promotes and supports members' dream of equity, wrote a helpful article called “Healing the Wounds of Racism.” His approach consists of four steps: (1) acknowledge the problem, (2) recognize it ourselves, (3) learn a new approach, and (4) listen. He advised,

The first step toward healing is the realization that the problem exists. We cannot fix that which we overlook or deny. Our attitudes toward others of a different race or of a different culture should not be considered a minor matter. Viewing them as such only affirms a willingness to stay unchanged.

Inviting all people to listen and learn from each other, he continued,

If we endeavored to truly hear from those we consider as “the other,” and if our honest focus was to let them share of their lives, their histories, their families, their hopes, and their pains, not only would we gain a greater understanding, but this practice would go a long way toward healing the wounds of racism.

King’s dream is just as relevant today. By acknowledging, learning, and listening, we can help keep King’s dream of equity alive, overcome attitudes and actions of prejudice, and help heal the wounds of racism.