Forty-eight years ago a great man gave a great speech about having a dream in this country. In his dream, everyone was equal in America--regardless of their race. One man, in the midst of legally allowed and even encouraged segregation, had a dream that all of us, “will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”
And while we have undoubtedly made some strides toward this dream of Reverend King’s, we are not all equal. We live in a society where there is still strong need for institutions such as Affirmative Action to try and help eliminate inequality and injustice against minority populations.
As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, I can’t help but wonder how many people really understand why we celebrate it. I wonder how many people just ignore the message behind the holiday and simply revel in the fact they get a day off work or school. I wonder how many people take the dream seriously and strive to do their part in carrying on Dr. King’s message of hope, determination, and non-violence in seeking equality.
It is easy to sit back and say that it’s not your problem, that it doesn’t affect you, but truthfully, inequality and injustice affects all of us at some level or another. We as a society are only as great as the way we treat our most deprived of citizens--something King recognized.
I challenge you to make 2012 the year that you do something--anything--to make a difference in your community, to fight for equality and justice for those who may not be able to fight for themselves for any number of reasons. To make a difference and change lives. It’s something that Dove, Inc., does every day.
What will you contribute to the dream this year?
--Angie Williams, Administrative Specialist, Dove's Domestic Violence Program
And while we have undoubtedly made some strides toward this dream of Reverend King’s, we are not all equal. We live in a society where there is still strong need for institutions such as Affirmative Action to try and help eliminate inequality and injustice against minority populations.
As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, I can’t help but wonder how many people really understand why we celebrate it. I wonder how many people just ignore the message behind the holiday and simply revel in the fact they get a day off work or school. I wonder how many people take the dream seriously and strive to do their part in carrying on Dr. King’s message of hope, determination, and non-violence in seeking equality.
It is easy to sit back and say that it’s not your problem, that it doesn’t affect you, but truthfully, inequality and injustice affects all of us at some level or another. We as a society are only as great as the way we treat our most deprived of citizens--something King recognized.
I challenge you to make 2012 the year that you do something--anything--to make a difference in your community, to fight for equality and justice for those who may not be able to fight for themselves for any number of reasons. To make a difference and change lives. It’s something that Dove, Inc., does every day.
What will you contribute to the dream this year?
--Angie Williams, Administrative Specialist, Dove's Domestic Violence Program
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