I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal."

The obvious reference here is the segregation, discrimination, and overall abuse that the blacks had been suffering. I believed the physical reformation of Dr. King's dream has been achieved based on two counts. The first are the laws that were passed in the decade following this speech. These laws banned discrimination, segregation and enforced the blacks right to vote. Principle in this were Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Right s Act of 1965 and the twenty-forth amendment. The second count is my personal touring in Louisiana and Mississippi. In my tours I viewed malls and street corners where formally there would have been signs of flagrant discrimination.

The latter dream dealt with the physical barriers that the blacks faced. However, King was not willing to stop at that. I have a dream that one day on the on the red hills of Georgia the sons former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down at a table of brotherhood.

This has definitely been achieved at the business level. Organizations such as the N.A.A.C.P. have national caucuses where they have roundtable discussions. On the political front former congressmen and civil rights leader Andrew Young said: "At one time I would have to march a couple of thousand blacks around the capitol to get an appointment with the speaker of the house, now I just call him on the telephone..." Upon personal examination of the opinion of achieved racial equality domestic liberties I found the situation is not the same. For example, I am a white upper class citizen of western Maryland and can count on my right hand the number of times I have sat across from a black person instead of having them serve me.

It is clear that a lot has been done legally to achieve racial equality as seen through the eyes of Dr. King. Right now, American Society is at the point where it needs to stop depending upon government to achieve equality and make strides at he neighbor to neighbor level. Whites must allow the doctrine of Dr. King to become part of them, not beyond them. An only when racial equality is as second nature as getting up in the morning to both races will the two dreams of Dr. King discussed here become a reality that Dr. King would have blessed. Written By: