As we near Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our nation should reflect. The life of a man so celebrated was spent trying to loosen the shackles of discrimination and bring light to the daily lives of Black Americans. Dr. King’s legacy is something every American citizen can identify: the renowned words of “I have a dream.” A dream of seeing justice and equity in every corner of this nation. Remembering this dream and the hopes that it would someday fulfill brings us back to the mirror for reflection. What aspects of King’s dream have we actually completed, and how far have we truly come? Recent events make us wonder, make us worry. 

It feels pathetic that in an age so led by modern technology and groundbreaking innovations, that one of the most memorable and problematic events of our year was basic civil rights. Images of streets where cars are no longer welcomed because they are occupied by the many different bodies all brought together for a greater good. Protests that spread like wildfires across the country. It was unsettling to see the images of the past show up in real time. What would our grandfathers think? What would King himself think? Where did we go wrong? Where along the way did our progress fail? If, after 58 years from his speech, we are still fighting for the same cause, we can not go on without admitting our efforts were not enough. If, even in our days, the fight has not stopped, we can not sit idly by hoping that somehow people’s opinions will change. We must apply pressure and let it be known that King’s legacy can and will continue until the dream is no longer a dream, but a reality. 

There are many ways that the dream can continue on. The attention to small details is what will carry this. You have to start those difficult conversations, spread awareness in your communities, and make it the norm to care about others’ experiences. Here in our own community, we have started Friends Against Racism (F.A.R.) in order to bring the modern day movements to light. Though a small group that as of now can only be heard by one local highschool, the efforts that we give and the conversations that we have can still bring change. Students’ eyes can still be opened, and they can still learn. Any progress is progress, and that is what will be the backbone of continuing King’s dream.