On the anniversary of what should have been Dr. Martin Luther King, jr.’s 92nd year walking among us, I am thankful for having heard his words and seen his example of courage, grace and perseverance. My parents instilled within my brother and I what he so eloquently described as “judging by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.” I pray that I have done them proud.

We Americans still have a long highway to travel to get to the Promised Land of actual Liberty and Justice for all. The route is bumpy and filed with potholes, yet we managed to push forward. I’d love to be able to say we are near the end of the Journey, but I fear we have miles to travel before we reach that destination, and it breaks my heart that we appear to be squarely back to where were when Dr. King did indeed walk and march among us. I remember watching dogs and water cannons being set upon peaceful protestors in what can only be described as “police riots”.

I was a child in 1968 and it horrified me. I am still horrified by how we treat our fellow American simply because of the color of their skin. It is up to us – you and I to make Dr. King’s Dream a Reality.