On Aug. 28, 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech transmitted a powerful message of equality that riveted the country. Delivered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, during the historic March on Washington, Dr. King advocated an America that was fair for everyone and provided its citizens with opportunities, jobs and freedom. His words resonated beyond the 250,000 demonstrators at the march and touched the hearts of millions of Americans. His words forced the nation to confront the ills of racism and injustice that plague our democracy, and help aid in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, our nation will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and King's dream. Although we will honor America's progress over the last half century, we must also recognize how much further our nation must go in order to bring King's dream into full fruition.
We're no longer fighting for blacks to have the right to vote or be served in white-only restaurants, and we're way passed the Jim Crow South era. However, Americans must work to alleviate modern day grievances like stringent voting laws pushed by the Republican Party that disproportionately limit blacks, Latinos and the working class from voting. Today, we're faced with a prison industrial system that is locking up black and brown men at record rates, frequently for possessing a small amount of marijuana, despite statistics that show the sale and usage of marijuana is more frequent in predominantly white communities. In this current age, we're challenged by Stand Your Ground laws that protect gun owners who shoot first and ask questions later. Plus, we're tasked with fixing a broken immigration system that has left 11 million undocumented workers living in fear.
Despite the litany of grave challenges facing the nation, there's one thing that brings us hope: the countless Americans across the country dedicated to fighting for progress.
Last Saturday, I had to privilege to join some thousands of those masses at the 50th Anniversary commemorating the March on Washington. While there, I met Vanessa Quintana, a 22-year-old student activist and motivational speaker, at the Lincoln Memorial. This young, spirited and proud Chicana spoke with vigor as she explained why it was so important for her to travel from Denver, Colo. to attend the 50th Anniversary march in DC.
"I'm personally here because Martin Luther King is my role model, like as [Rodolfo] 'Corky' Gonzáles, who lead the Chicano movement," she said. "It's a movement for peace, for justice, for equality and for social change."
She went on to say, "I believe in a broader future for everybody despite your color," adding that, like MLK, she is also passionate about "alleviating poverty."
She also mentioned the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his killer George Zimmerman, which she says occurred because of classism and racism. "That's why I'm here, to get rid of all that."
I also met Paul Igasaki, a Virginia native who marched with his organization the Japanese American Citizens Slate.
"We'd like an immigration system that works and is fair," Igasaki told Latinos Post. "We'd liked to make sure for people in this county that are working should be given a fair opportunity and a path to citizenship even if they're currently undocumented. We'd like a program that provides for the many students and people that grown up here in America."
He added, "Our country is built on immigration ... we're stronger when we're open and willing to have more Americans, more fairly and more quickly."
The push for comprehensive immigration reform was also championed from the speakers' podium at the Lincoln Memorial. Democratic Rep. John Lewis, the youngest speaker at the rally 50 years ago in 1963, urged the crowd on Saturday to fight for voting rights and immigration reform.
"It doesn't make sense that millions of our people are living in the shadows," said the 73-year-old congressman. "Bring them out into the light and set them on the path to citizenship."
In addition, immigrant advocates like Casa de Maryland, founded by Central American immigrants, connected Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have A Dream" speech to the dreams of undocumented immigrants in the US who are seeking legal status.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was 50 years ago—today a new generation of Americans continue to push it forward.