By: Jocelyn Gaucin
The famous “I have a dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. is well known in today’s society as quite possibly one of the greatest speeches of all time due to the high impact it made regarding people of color during the civil rights movement. Since then, you would think that any isolation between races would have ended but unfortunately, that did not quite happen. Today, a movement known as “Black Lives Matter” has been protested around not just the United States but around the world for a few years now to highlight all racial injustice. Looking back in history at who Martin Luther King Jr. was and what he stood for, one can’t help but wonder what would go on his head if he were to be alive today. Based off of an article in the LA Times, it would be along the lines of pure disappointment and shame. Disappointment because our society as a whole is moving into the 21st century and the fact that a lot of the same problems are still happening is truly very sad and well, quite a shame. Martin Luther King Jr. understood that “the official power of the state to punish and murder Black people was fatal for a democracy”.- LA Times
This same issue of discrimination is not just towards people of color, but people who are anything but ordinary. In fact, it was not until 1990 that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was passed that prohibited the discrimination against people with disabilities. But unfortunately, just because the law prohibits something does not necessarily mean it won’t exactly not happen. In 2020, a huge domino effect occurred to what started out as a year with high hopes, turning into a year we wish we could all forget. Not only did a world-wide pandemic break out, but a lot of unnecessary murders of Black citizens by police officers happened as well. That is when riots began to surface. This was a very difficult time for our country as a whole because people were choosing sides, becoming even more isolated rather than coming together to combat this issue. During this upcoming holiday, I hope that many remember who exactly Martin Luther King Jr. was and the legacy he left behind. He may not be alive to witness what’s been going on, but we have the power to support those that have been wronged and help in any way that we can.
