Fulfilling King’s dream
What Barack Obama's inauguration says about the state of Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision
What happened
More than two-thirds of African Americans polled by CNN said that Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of race relations, outlined in his “I have a dream” speech, has been fulfilled. Just 46 percent of whites felt the same way. The poll was released on Monday—the holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader and the day before the inauguration of the first black U.S. president. (CNN)
What the commentators said
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Obama's election proves we've come a long way toward racial equality, said Ed Morrissey in Hot Air. Glenn Reynolds said in his blog that whites are more pessimistic because of lingering white guilt. But the truth is that white Americans haven't lived the black experience and aren't as aware of the barriers that exist, so we don't feel it's our place to "make the call."
"Racism still exists in America," said The Oklahoman in an editorial, but there's no denying that Obama's elevation to the highest office in the land marks the realization, in large part, of King's dream. This should renew the hope that we will soon reach other milestones of progress that King envisioned.
"I wish Martin Luther King were here to see a Dream coming true," said Leonard Pitts in The Miami Herald. But not just King. "I wish Emmett Till, Jimmie Lee Jackson, Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner, Viola Liuzzo and all the other martyrs were here." And Rosa Parks, along with so many other soldiers of the civil rights era. "They are dead now," but this inauguration day we saw that the things they gave live on.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published